March home sales up 12%

Sales of existing single-family homes are up 12% by volume over the year in March, and 13% in the first three months of 2011 combined, according to Florida Realtors. And condo sales are up 24% and 29% respectively.

But prices continue to go down. The median sale price for an existing home was down about 7% over the year; for condos, the median price is down 14%.

Statewide trends held in Sarasota-Bradenton and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater: in both markets, sales volumes are up but prices are down.