April home sales increased 23 percent compared to the same month a year ago .

There were 3,147 home closings reported for April in the Nashville metropolitan statistical area, according to figures provided by RealTracs through the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors. April 2003 reported 2,543 home closings.

Year-to-date there have been 10,488 home closings, which represents a 21 percent increase compared to 8,664 closings reported through April 2003.

“April usually kicks off the beginning of a strong real estate season, but these numbers are especially encouraging,” says Jay Lowenthal, GNAR president. “It is reasonable to expect that home sales will remain strong, even in light of home mortgage interest rates climbing slightly recently.”

April home transactions consisted of 2,603 residential closings, 248 condominium closings, 44 multi-family closings and 252 frams/land/lots.

Homes were on the market for an average of 78 days during April, down from 85 days for April 2003. There were 3,479 pending sales at the end of April, compared to 3,030 pending sales for the year-ago period. The median residential price for a single-family home during April was $141,000 and for a condominium it was $113,000.