Florida existing home sales up 34% in September - South Florida Business Journal:

Existing home and condo sales in Florida and the tri-county area rose in September, as the housing market slowly continues its recovery.

But, according to the latest figures from Florida Realtors, the Sunshine State still has a long way to go before it shakes off the housing slump.

In South Florida, Miami led the way, with a 51 percent jump in sales of single-family homes, to 619 sales in September from 410 a year ago.

Prices, however, remain depressed, with the median price at $190,900, down 30 percent from $274,600 in the year-ago period.

Miami also led the way in condo sales, with 611, up 73 percent from 353 a year ago. The median price of a Miami condo fell 37 percent, to $132,900 from $212,200.

Single-family home sales in Fort Lauderdale were up 31 percent, to 800 from 611 in September 2008.

The median price has fallen 23 percent, to $200,000 from $259,300 in the year-ago period.

Condo sales in Fort Lauderdale were up 57 percent, to 861 from 549, but prices plummeted 40 percent, to $78,300 from $129,600.

In West Palm Beach, single-family home sales rose 43 percent in September, to 746 from 522. The median price was down 17 percent, to $242,900 from $292,200.

Condo sales in West Palm Beach were up 30 percent, to 632 from 487. But, the median price of a condo fell 24 percent, year-over-year, to $106,700 from $139,800.

Statewide, existing home sales were up 34 percent, to 14,419 homes sold from 10,778 in September 2008.

Between August and September, statewide existing home sales increased 4.1 percent.

The condo market is on the rebound, with Florida Realtors reporting a 77 percent jump in sales to 5,088 units from 2,870 a year ago.

The median price of a home in Florida last month was $142,000, a 19 percent decrease from a year ago, when it was $174,900.

The statewide existing condo median sales price last month was $102,500, down 33 percent from $153,500 in September 2008.