California home sales rose in October; highest sales tally for month in 2 years

A research firm says California home sales continue to climb — with the October sales tally reaching the highest it has been for that month in two years.

CoreLogic DataQuick reported Thursday that an estimated 36,830 new and resale houses and condos sold statewide in October 2014. That was up 1.4 percent from September, and up 1 percent from October 2013.

The firm says statewide sales have inched up on a year-over-year basis for two consecutive months.

But prices have cooled since this summer, though they are still higher than the same time a year ago.

The median price paid for a home in California in October was $382,000, down 1.8 percent from $389,000 in September and up 7 percent from $357,000 in October 2013.