AVON- HENDRICKS COUNTY - As the spring home buying season begins, pended sales in the nine-county region slipped in March while available inventory showed a slight decline for the first time this year, according to pended sales statistics compiled by CHRIS CASTETTER / F.C. Tucker Company.

March pended home sales were down 14.7 percent with 2,419 homes pending compared to 2,836 in March 2007. So far this year, overall pended home sales are down 10.1 percent from March 2007. Available inventory in March was 18,405, which is 158 fewer homes available than in March 2007.

"While the drop in pended home sales in March is higher than we anticipated based on February's encouraging numbers, available inventory appears to be starting to balance out.  "Going into the spring/summer home buying season, we anticipate a sales spike as homeowners get back into the market, which continues to offer an excellent array of homes at affordable prices."  www.sellmyavonhouse.com