Agents say home sales up as buyers flood market - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

If you want to sell your home fast, some real estate agents say now is the time.

Nationally, home prices are on the rise.

But here in Alabama, agents say they're still relatively low--meaning buyers are more likely snatch them up.

Ashley Gilbreath closes on her house in two weeks.

"It's great. It's certainly great. You get your cash back out of it."

Her house has been on the market for a while.

"We lowered it and then we lowered it a little bit more," says Gilbreath.

She believes the price reduction and the timing may have helped sell it.

"I don't know if it's this time of year or if the market's had time to pick back up, but we're under contract."

Real estate agent TJ Williford says it's no doubt all about the timing.

"There's more people looking and shopping and making buying decisions than there were last year or the year previous," he says.

He has seen a significant increase in the amount of sold homes since this time last year. In fact, he says many homes that didn't sell a year ago are now under contract.

"Showings are up 50% and I would say our production is up at least 20%," adds Williford.

Williford says in just one week nearly 260 homes in the tri-county area were sold or put under contract.

While he's confident houses are selling faster, some agents we talked with aren't so sure--claiming home sales are only up 10% over last year and the average time a house is on the market remains the same.

Nonetheless, Williford is confident--if you want to sell your house you can on one condition.

"Price their home properly and have a clean and well-maintained home."

Families aren't the only ones snatching up homes. Williford says many homes are being sold to investors looking to spruce them up and sell them again, or simply rent them to people.