Monthly home sales rebound

SARASOTA — Recently released numbers from the Sarasota Association of Realtors (SAR) show that the number of sales rose in August compared with the same month last year, but the median sale price fell in August from July.

In August, SAR members sold 819 properties, up 36% from August 2011, according to a news release.

Sarasota Realtors sold 587 single-family homes and 232 condos in August, compared with 445 single-family homes and 156 condos sold in August 2011.

“The old adage says all real estate is local, and in Sarasota, we are experiencing a resurgent, vibrant, energized market — the best we've seen since the end of the boom years in 2006,” says SAR President Laura Benson, in a release.

Although sales were up year over year, the median sale price for single-family homes fell in August from July, dropping from $178,000 to $169,945. Condos dropped further, from $176,000 in July to $149,000 in August, according a release.

In August, pending sales rose to 953 from July's 919. Pending sales are good indicators of future market sales, therefore September 2012 numbers are expected to beat September 2011, the release says.