The decline in Utah home sales slowed in the second quarter with existing home sales close to year-ago levels, according to a Utah Association of REALTORS® report released Thursday. In the second quarter, Utah REALTORS® sold 8,021 homes and condos, down 3 percent from the 8,232 properties sold in second quarter 2008. While sales were down overall, the decrease was much slower than the double-digit drops seen over the past two years and the 23 percent decline in the first quarter. Percentage-wise this was the best quarter for Utah year-over-year home sales since second quarter 2006, when sales were up 3 percent.
 
A separate report suggested sales improved as the quarter progressed. In June, Wasatch Front home sales were up 9 percent compared to June 2008, the first year-over-year monthly rise for Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, Weber and Tooele counties since September 2008.
 
Over the quarter, areas with the highest home sale gains were Grand County (up 53 percent), Wasatch County (up 52 percent), Washington County (up 29 percent) and Utah County (up 18 percent).