Amador County – October home sales dropped throughout the region in October, but Amador managed to remain the only county not to go negative.

In total, 45 home sales were made during the month in Amador County, while sales in the rest of the Sacramento-area remained at there lowest levels since the mid-1990s. The data was provided by La Jolla-based researcher MDA DataQuick.

In the region’s largest market, Sacramento County, sales fell 23.3 percent compared to one year ago. Excluding Amador County, the remaining four counties in the Sacramento region saw sales decline 22 percent in October, with the median home price falling 4.3 percent to $180,000.

Statewide, existing home sales dropped by 19.6 percent while home prices rose 2.3 percent to $304,220.

The sales decline is being blamed on a weak economy and lack of jobs.

“We’re really seeing two different housing markets - one at the lower-end driven by first-time buyers and investors, which is keeping prices stable, and one with nostalgic sellers who set unrealistic asking prices,” said California Association of Realtors vice president and chief economist Leslie Appleton-Young in a report released Tuesday. “Sellers need to consider current market conditions when pricing their home in order to facilitate a shorter time on the market.”

The Sacramento-area has been one of the most difficult markets in the country. Since October 2009, it has seen the third-largest drop in home prices in the state.

Nationally, the National Association of Realtors reported that the number of homes sold fell 2.2 percent from September to an annual rate of 4.43 million. The rate was down 25.9 percent from 12 months earlier.

Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.