Uptick in home sales in Sarasota

Housing sales up sharply

By Tom Bayles & Aaron Kessler

Published: Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, August 21, 2009 at 9:48 p.m.

Home sales in the Sarasota-Bradenton market rose 30 percent during July as buyers scurried to lock in a federal tax credit before it expires in November.

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July's sales performance was the biggest percentage point move in the region since June 2004. Nationally, sales spiked by the biggest amount in a decade.

At a median of $179,500, prices in the Sarasota-Bradenton market were down 22 percent from a year ago, but continued to show stability, rising 10 percent from June, data released Friday by the Florida Association of Realtors showed.