Three candidates for Tennessee governor touted their real estate experience to a local real estate group Wednesday, but job creation trumped specific housing industry legislation as the key to reviving property markets.

Three defendants, including an Edmond man, indicted in an alleged scheme involving local real estate pleaded not guilty in federal court Thursday.

According to the Northeast Tennessee Association of Realtors, 407 homes in the Tri-Cities region sold last month. That was down 2.2-percent compared to May home sales.