Florida's July Home Sales Up From a Year Ago

For the first time in two years, single-family home sales rose in Florida last month, according to the Florida Association of Realtors. However, median sales prices continued their decline.

And while only six more homes sold in July 2008 than in July 2007, "it could indicate a stabilization in Florida housing sector," FAR noted in a press release.

Statewide, 11,498 existing homes sold last month, while 11,492 homes sold during the same month last year.

And, while sales are up, prices remain down.

The median sales price for existing homes last month was $193,600, down 19 percent from a year ago.

The numbers for the Jacksonville area were ambiguous because they did not include data from the St. Augustine & St. Johns County Board of Realtors. Without those transactions, sales fell 23 percent in Northeast Florida, while the median sales price dipped 6 percent to $180,800.

Condo sales fared worse. Statewide, sales fell 7 percent and the median price of $168,500 was down 13 percent from a year ago. In Northeast Florida, sales were down 37 percent -- excluding transactions from St. Johns County -- while the median sales price dropped 13 percent to $148,000.

Source: Florida Association of Realtors