In the Birmingham metropolitan area, the July numbers showed a decline in home sales, a twist from the past 6 months that had positive sales and steadily increasing movement in the market. The 4 percent drop in July was the first time that the numbers had failed to beat sales in 2011.

The Birmingham movers feel a number of factors are at play. Aside from a sluggish and dragging job market, the economic state of Alaama is also relying on the upcoming election–which has stalled some consumer activity as the fate of the nation is still uncertain. However, those who are optimistic in the Birmingham area say that the lower sales aren’t a trend, and they also aren’t necessarily bad. In fact, the decline in sales is directly correlated with a drop in available inventory. A 16% drop in houses on the market combined with foreclosures and other real estate drawbacks had a contribution to the decline, and time will tell as we receive August statistics how the state of the market is holding up.