Biz Buzz: Home sales, median price rise

San Luis Obispo County home sales and the median price inched up in June, according to the latest figures from DataQuick, a real estate tracking firm.

Sales of all homes — including newly built, resale detached houses and condominiums — increased nearly 7 percent last month, compared to the same month a year ago.

A total of 313 homes were sold in June, compared to 293 sold in June 2009. It was a 15.5 percent jump from May, when 271 homes sold locally.

The median price in June was $400,500, a 4.7 percent increase from the same month in 2009, when the median was $382,500. That’s a 3 percent increase from May, when the median stood at $360,000.

Sales of new homes increased 88 percent in June, with 32 homes sold, up from 17 homes in June 2009. It’s a 60 percent jump from the previous month, when 20 newly built homes were sold in the county.

The median price of new homes increased 58.8 percent in June to $532,000, up from $335,000 in June of last year. It is 36.4 percent higher than the May median of $390,000.

A total of 45 resale condos sold in the month of June, a 40.6 percent increase from the same month a year ago. The median price of condos, however, dipped 10 percent to $260,000 in June from $289,000 in June 2009.

It was a 9 percent drop from the May median of $286,000.

Meanwhile, sales of existing, single-family homes fell 3.3 percent in June. A total of 236 homes sold last month, down from 244 in June 2009. It’s an 11.3 percent increase from May, when 212 such homes sold.

The median price of detached, single-family homes increased 4.3 percent in June to $420,000, up from $402,500 in the same month last year. The May median of $370,000 for existing single-family homes represents a 13.5 percent decrease from last month’s median price.

— Julie Lynem

Fair announces olive oil winners

The California Mid-State Fair has announced winners of the Central Coast Olive Oil Competition, which received more than 50 entries from around the Central Coast. Best of show went to the Robbins Family Farm Extra Virgin Ascolano.

Also chosen as the best submitted versions of their particular blends were: San Antonio Valley Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Arbequina, Mardesich Estate Extra Virgin Frantoio and Leccino Blend, Olivos de Oro Olive Company Organic Extra Virgin Arbequina, Olive Diva Organic Extra Virgin Frantoio and Leccino Blend, Bozzano Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Ascolano Blend, Coldani Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Arbequina, Bozzano Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Arbequina Blend, Rancho Los Olivos Extra Virgin Frantoio & Leccino Blend and Laraneta Olive Oil Extra Virgin Mustard Flavored.

A total of 13 gold medals were also given to frantoio and leccino blends by Tuscali Olive Oil, Robbins Family Farm, Pasolivo Olive Oil, Rancho Los Olivos and Alta Cresta Orchard; mission blends by Homestead Olive Ranch and San Antonio Valley Olive Ranch; mono cultivar by Casa Pau Hana Olive Farm and Alta Cresta Orchard; a manzanillo blend by California Olive Oil Company; a mandarin citrus-flavored blend by Olivas de Oro Olive Company; and a blend by Counsel Oaks.

— Julia Hickey

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Caliber Accounting and Tax of Pismo Beach recently promoted Alana Maxwell of San Luis Obispo to be its fourth partner in the business. She has worked there since the company’s founding in 2008. The firm has a staff of about 20 employees.

Maxwell has practiced accounting in the Central Coast for eight years and specializes in income tax planning, consulting and compliance for individuals and businesses. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Cal Poly.

— Julia Hickey