Sales of N.C. existing homes stabilized in December

Statewide, 5,100 homes sold last month, which was a 3 percent increase over the 4,959 that sold the preceding month, according to the North Carolina Association of Realtors. November's sales were down 22 percent from October.

Still, existing home sales remain relatively weak, the group reported. Last month's sales were down 38 percent from December 2007, but the median sales price was off by only 8 percent, from $217,727 to $201,255.

In the Triangle, sales remained soft. Last month, 1,089 existing homes sold, down 8 percent from November and 47 percent from December 2007. The median sales price was flat from a year ago, at $236,888.

Fayetteville and Goldsboro were two of the strongest markets statewide last month. Sales in Fayetteville rose 20 percent over November, from 232 to 278, while Goldsboro reported a 51 percent jump in sales, from 39 to 59 homes.

Median prices in both markets were down 6 to 8 percent, however.