Local real estate sales for September came within an inch of matching last year’s sales and, while down 17.5 percent from August, this is a big improvement from the 26 percent drop comparing the same two months in 2008. The average selling price of $243,069 was off 8.1 percent from last year but improved 6.9 percent from the previous month. Results for the third quarter are much improved over …

After more than two years of real estate industry turmoil with the housing and financial market crashes, record foreclosures and a deep economic recession, there is hope that the market is making a turn.