National home sales are down, Oklahoma is up

TULSA - The latest figures for existing home sales are now out and nationally it's not looking good.

In comparing July of 2010 against July of 2009, the midwest is off by a little more than 33%, in the northeast it's just over 30%.

While, the west took a hit of 23% and the south fell nearly 20-percent.

"We're looking for something you know four bedroom in Midtown. We have kids that go to school down here," Shelly Armstrong and her husband just started looking for a new home and they're finding a lot of great properties on the market right now.

But, Armstrong says her family is not getting into a hurry, "People our age are little more cautious now to make sure that they're making good decisions and don't over extend themselves.' 'You have to be a little more cautious in this day and age."

McGraw Realtors agent Laura Hawkins says she's finding that a lot buyers are making sure that big purchase is exactly what they're looking for, "Sellers know that they need to get their house in really good condition, show it in the best light they possibly can."

The Oklahoma Realtors Association says sales across the state are up nearly 10% in the second quarter of 2010, compared to the same time last year.

"We've actually weathered the storm fairly well although I do see that the market is a little tougher than it has been historically," Hawkins said.

With interest rates hovering at a historic low, Hawkins now is the time to buy, "I don't know when the last time in history we've had that."