Home sales in our area were down in August compared to the month before, but the numbers are higher than a year ago.

According to the St. Joseph Regional Association of Realtors, residential home sales for the month totaled $19.2 million, down slightly from the $20.1 million in sales in July.

But officials say the total for August was nearly 22% higher than the $15.7 million in home sales in August of 2015.

Realtors have sold 991 residential units so far this year, worth nearly $128 million. That is a nearly 6% increase in units sold and a more than 11% increase in dollars.