August home sales in Rutherford County jumped 8 percent over last year's mark, and closings have increased 5.5 percent for 2014, even as prices rose, showing overall improvement in the market's health.

Rutherford sales for August finished at 462, up slightly over 453 in July, and a step up from 433 for the same month in 2013, according to the Red Report put together by Red Realty.

Total closings in a four-county area were up 7 percent with Rutherford's average closing price at an average of $193,564, a 6 percent increase over August 2013, according to the report.