Biz Buzz: Home sales bump up while median price ticks down

San Luis Obispo County home sales were up in April compared to a year ago, while the median price took a slight dip from the same month in 2009.

In the all-homes combined category, which includes new and resale single-family detached houses and condos, a total of 243 sales were recorded in the county, up from 203 in April 2009.

That’s a 19.7 percent jump from the same month a year ago, according to DataQuick Information Systems, a Southern California-based firm that tracks housing data.

April sales were down 2.4 percent from March, when 249 homes were sold.

The median price in April was $355,000, a 1.4 percent drop from $360,000 in April 2009. The median also fell 2.7 percent from March when it stood at $365,000.

New home sales and the median price of newly built homes increased last month. A total of 17 new homes were sold in April, up 13.3 percent from April 2009 when 15 sold. It’s an 88 percent increase from March when nine new homes sold.

The median price of a new home was $357,000 last month, a 12.6 percent increase from April 2009 when the median price was $317,000. In April, the median price jumped 15.3 percent from March when it registered $309,500.

Sales of existing single-family detached homes also increased in April compared to the same month a year ago. A total of 190 sold last month, an 11.8 percent increase from the same month in 2009 when 170 were sold. However, it’s a 14 percent decrease from March when 221 existing single-family homes sold.

Last month, resale condominium sales increased 100 percent from the same month a year ago, with 36 selling compared to 18 sold in April 2009. April condo sales also beat out March when 19 sold. That’s a month-over-month change of 89.4 percent.

The median sales price in this category fell to $260,250 from $274,500, a 5.2 percent drop from April 2009. Last month’s median price for a condo was also down 16.7 percent from March when it stood at $312,500.

— Julie Lynem

Community group has new HR head

The Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County Inc., formerly the Economic Opportunity Commission, recently appointed Thomas E. Alvarez human resources director.

Alvarez has 13 years of high-level human resources experience, such as at Kern Community College District, CSU Bakersfield and The Home Depot. Alvarez has a bachelor’s degree in political science from UCLA and a master’s degree in public administration from CSU Bakersfield.

He was Kern County Civil Service Commissioner from 2001 to 2005.

— Julia Hickey

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The Beach Bungalow Inn and Suites is now open in Morro Bay at 1050 Morro Avenue.

Owner Joan Solu, of Morro Bay, describes the inn as a 1940s motor-court style design. Reza R. Armani will manage the 12-room inn, which features fireplaces and hard wood floors.

Rates start at $95 on weekdays and $180 on weekends. Solu is also the owner of the Days Inn in Morro Bay.

— Julia Hickey