Local:  Monmouth County home sales experienced a staggering 120% increase in July, more than doubling the sales of the previous year (1678 vs 763).  Year-to-date Monmouth's sales are still down significantly ~ -36% ~ but the recent sales figures are certainly encouraging.  Condo sales also experienced a large increase, with an almost 65% increase over sales in July 2008.

Price-wise Monmouth's July figures show a median sales price increase of 7.3% from June but still 8.5% lower than July 2008.

National: In July new home sales across the nation jumped more than forecast, reinforcing signs the economy is rebounding from the the recession.  Nationally, home sales increased 9.6% in July, the most in four years, to a 433,000 annual pace, the Commerce Department said.  July's national home sales pace was the highest in 10 months and exceeded all estimates.

The median price of a new home decreased 12 percent to $210,100 from $237,300 in July 2008.

The jump in sales was led by a 32 percent surge in the Northeast. Purchases increased 16 percent in the South and 1 percent in the West. They dropped 7.6 percent in the Midwest.