Three area counties report higher home sales-WEB ONLY

Home sales increased last month in three central Indiana counties despite a 3-percent decline for the region as a whole. Marion, Johnson and Hancock counties had more sales in December than the same month in 2007, according to statistics compiled by F.C. Tucker Co. – for a total of 25 more deals. All told, 1,411 central Indiana homes sold, down from 1,452 in December 2007. For the year, sales were down 11 percent for the nine-county region. The inventory of homes for sale dropped 14 percent in December, with 2,605 fewer properties on the market.