Upbeat picture painted about 2012 S.C. home sales market

While 2011 was not a breakthrough year for home sales, the S.C. Realtors association is painting an upbeat picture about what the relatively stable year means for 2012.

In their annual report, the group cites a 14.7% decline in new listings, the lowest since 2005, meanwhile the number of home sales held steady at the low level in 2009, meanwhile the inventory of homes on the market fell 15.6% to the lowest level since 2007.

In a nutshell, the Realtor group painted a picture of solidifying foundation returning to the real estate market. 

And locally these trends showed as well, The Island Packet received local numbers that showed a 9.4% rise in sales on Hilton Head and a .5% improvement in Beaufort.