Tampa Bay home sales had their best October in four years as buyers rushed to take advantage of the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit.

Realtor sales in Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough and Hernando counties totaled 2,758 in October, up 37 percent from 2,021 sales in October 2008.

Last's month's closings were the highest since 3,735 homes changed hands in October 2005.

The data come from the Florida Association of Realtors, which noted that the median Tampa Bay home price dropped 10 percent year over year, from $152,300 to $137,500.

Here's the chart: Download Faroct09

Foreclosure and pre-foreclosure homes made up close to half of all sales in October. The credit crash in October 2008 artificially suppressed sales but the rise this year was real, not just a statistical quirk.