Home sales, prices in three area counties drop in September

Sales and median prices of existing homes in the Tampa Bay area fell last month after rising in August, continuing the up-and-down pattern since June.

The median price of single-family homes in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties fell 3.4 percent from $129,900 in August to $125,500 in September, according to My Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service data. The figures include conventional, foreclosure and short sales. The median price in September 2010 was $130,500.

Total sales fell from 2,392 in August to 2,173 in September. The September sales total represents a 14 percent increase from September 2010.

The median price of conventional home sales fell 5 percent — $170,000 to $161,500 — from August to September in the three counties. In September 2010, the median price of a conventional sale was $175,000.

Foreclosure sales fell from 581 in August to 479 in September, down from the peak of 975 in March. The median price of those sales dropped from $75,000 in August to $70,199 in September. Sales figures do not include Hernando and Citrus counties because Realtors in the two counties report data to another MLS board.