Wrightsville Beach residential real estate has seen an uptick in sales this year over last, but the market is far from booming.

“The reason sales are up is buyers are taking advantage of the very attractive prices on the available inventory,” said Jim Wallace, CEO of Intracoastal Realty.

Closed sales have risen by about 54 percent this year, he said, quoting figures from the Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors’ multiple listing service. The number of sold units in 2010 was 24, which represented about $20.8 million in total volume.

So far this year, the number of units sold has been about 36, which represents about $27.5 million. But the number of units sold through June will be updated by July 10, so those figures could increase.

Still, the total number of sales over the past three years has been the lowest Randy Williams, Realtor with Hardee Hunt and Williams, has seen during his 25-year career.

The capital gains tax deferral on investment properties, which he saw frequently during the real estate boom, is virtually non-existent these days. However, the buyers of single-family homes in Wrightsville Beach are still the same, he said. They are typically from out-of-town and buying a second home.

According to Hardee Hunt and Williams, the average single-family home price in 2010 in Wrightsville Beach was $1.2 million. So far this year, the average home price is about $1.12 million, Williams said.

A combination of prices adjusted slightly downward and pent-up demand has contributed to this year’s increase in sales, he said.