BLOOMINGTON - As expected, Twin City home sales dropped in September.

Real estate agents and builders sold 195 homes around Bloomington-Normal last month, a little more than 25 percent off of the year-to-date high of 265 homes in August, according to statistics from the Bloomington-Normal Association of Realtors.

Agents sold 163 existing properties and 32 new homes in September, down about 23 percent and 41 percent respectively from the month before.

Overall year-to-date sales are down about 14 percent.

A lot of the downturn in September is seasonal, though the economic situation also came into play, said Laurie Christensen, president of the association.

"You wouldn't want to risk having two houses," Christensen said. "Those people have to sell to buy."

September sales followed the seasonal pattern that happened in 2007, as well. A year ago, agents sold 36 new homes and 163 existing properties for a total of 199 sales.

But by the end of September 2007, the number of homes sold equaled 2,123, compared to 1,818 properties in 2008.

New home sales remain almost even - 309 sold in 2007 versus 304 sold this year. Existing home sales are down about 16.5 percent, or 300 homes.

"We feel the same frustrations as the sellers do," Christensen said. "We don't make a penny until the sellers do."

New home sales have done well this year as builders offered more incentives like finished basements or extra appliances on properties that had sat on the market for a while, Christensen said.

The average new home sold for $291,377 in September.

Also as a result of economic problems and worries, real estate agents have seen a shift in their customer base, Christensen said.

Families are hesitant to upgrade to a bigger home because they fear selling their current residence, but renters able to qualify for a home loan have found it's the perfect time for them to become a homeowner, she said.

Most first-time buyers will purchase existing homes, which sold for an average of $156,131 last month, Christensen said.

The average price for all homes sold in September was $178,326, down from $188,512 in August.