We'll start by conceding that home sales in October 2008 were beaten down by last year's credit lock up. Nevertheless, it's none too shabby when sales rise 35 percent year over year.

The Greater Tampa Association of Realtors recorded 1,722 sales in October 2009 versus 1,279 a year earlier. The average sales price - Tampa Realtors used average instead of median - dropped 16 percent over those 12 months. A typical home sold for $156,775 last month compared to $186,424 a year earlier.

I don't put much faith in month-to-month zig zags, but Hillsborough County home prices fell almost 5 percent from September to October. That suggests plenty of cut-rate foreclosure homes are finding buyers, which weighs down average home prices.

Here's a detailed chart: Download Gtaroct09