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National index shows home prices increasing in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Finally, Charlotte's housing market is on a winning streak.

After several years of plummeting prices, a major national index shows that home prices have increased for four months in a row.

That's a welcome turnaround for a housing industry that's been struggling.

“Buyers are different today. They're finding that they can sell their houses quicker. We're having buyers come in and say, ‘I need a home.’ They're also getting a little more price than they anticipated," said Bill Saint, president of Classica Homes.

Saint's company has already sold 16 of 30 homes in one of two new developments in Huntersville -- something that seemed out of reach a year ago.

Charlotte is one of 20 cities tracked by the Case-Shiller Home Price Index that reported a 1.2 percent increase in home prices in June.  Charlotte's increase for that month was modest -- 0.8 percent, but after years of declines, the industry will take it.

"The last time we saw price increases goes all the way back to March of 2008," Saint said.

Realtors also say they're seeing a bump in their business.

"We're really having a lot of activity in these houses that a year ago might have sat for a lot longer," said Alison Smith, a Realtor in Cornelius.

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