Arkansas home sales fall 21% in August.

Arkansas home sales in August fell 21 percent from August 2007, according to the latest monthly housing report from the Arkansas Realtors Association.

The report shows 2,409 homes sold in August 2008, down 21.15 percent from 3,055 during the same month last year.

Washington County logged the biggest decline in home sales for the month, down 31.41 percent from the same month last year. Pulaski County was next, with a decline of 26.61 percent.

Benton County's August sales were down 25 percent, while Saline County saw a drop of 20.99 percent.

Sebastian County sales saw the lowest decrease, down by only about 0.65 percent.

Statewide, average home prices were down 1.44 percent from August 2007. Benton County saw the largest decrease of 6.81 percent to $203,475. Garland County's home prices were down by more than 4.93 percent, while Washington County saw a decline of 2.73 percent.

Grant and Carroll counties showed significant increases in home prices. Grant County saw an increase of 62.67 percent to $180,125, while Carroll County rose 47.27 percent to $236, 346.

The association also released July home sales figures last week, which showed that the state's sales fell nearly 17 percent from July 2007.

The July report shows 2,407 homes sold in July 2008, down 16.8 percent from 2,893 during the same month last year.

Pulaski County showed the biggest decline in home sales of 26.44 percent, followed by a decrease in Saline County of 23.17 percent and a 22.5 percent drop in Washington County compared to July 2007. Benton County home sales declined only slightly by 0.28 percent.

The statewide average price of homes in July 2008 fell 0.64 percent to $154,758 from the same month last year.

Washington County saw the largest decline of 9.74 percent to $182,869.

Pulaski County showed the most growth from July 2007 to July 2008, a 5.63 percent increase to $192,738.