Southland home sales still strong

Southland home sales recorded the strongest October since 1989, according to DataQuick Information Systems.

A total of 29,048 new and resale houses and condos were sold in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Ventura, San Bernardino and Orange counties in October. That was up 10.8% from 26,216 for the month before, and up 13.1% from 26,092 for October last year.

So far this year 284,498 homes have been sold in Southern California, the strongest January-to-October period since 1989 when 286,515 were sold. Sales levels increased most in the Inland Empire counties and in affordable neighborhoods elsewhere.

The median price that Southland buyers paid for a home in October was $278,000. That was down 0.4% from $279,000 for September, and up 19.3% from $233,000 for October last year.