Milwaukee-area home sales down 14.5 percent for year

Home sales in the Milwaukee metro area decreased 14.5 percent through the first 11-months of 2010, compared to the same period in 2009, according to housing statistics released Friday by Metro MLS Inc.

There were 11,539 sales through November 2010 compared to 13,490 a year ago.

Last year, buyers took advantage of the federal tax credit before it was to have expired on Nov. 30, 2009.

· Milwaukee County has seen a 17.7 percent decrease for the year (6,661 in 2010 versus 8,095 in 2009);

· Waukesha County was down 8.7 percent in 2010 (3,138 sales compared to 3,438 in 2009);

· Washington County sales were down 18.5 percent (984 in 2010 versus 1,207 in 2009)

· Ozaukee County saw sales stay flat (756 sales in both years)

· Racine County was down 8.1 percent in 2010 (1,507 versus 1,639 in 2009)

Inventory is still at a high level with 15.5 months of supply, according to Metro MLS.