By Nita McCann

NATCHEZ —The number of home sales in Natchez and Adams County was steady in 2014 from the previous year, but the total value of those homes saw a moderate increase, according to figures from the Natchez Association of Realtors.

Last year, 159 homes were sold compared to 160 in 2013. But the dollar value of those properties rose from $25.3 million to $27.7 million during that same period.

“That’s due to increased economic activity in general,” said Betsy Hungerford Iles, a Crye-Leike agent and a member of the Natchez Association of Realtors.

She added that continuing economic development efforts and still-low interest rates bode well for real estate figures this year.

“I know we’ve lost people and industries,” said agent Charlotte Copeland with Century 21. “And we’re not back to any good times yet. But there’s more economic activity than a year ago.”

Glenn Green, a real estate agent and developer in Natchez, said both homes and commercial properties are getting stronger.

“It’s a good sign of things to come,” Green said.

Beth Hansen, chief executive officer of the Mississippi Association of Realtors, said statewide home sales statistics are not available.

“The Multiple Listing Services for each region in Mississippi keep their own statistics, but we don’t compile them here,” Hansen said.

The National Association of Realtors reported Jan. 23 that sales of existing homes fell 3.1 percent in 2014 for the nation as a whole.