The monthly results for May's home sales Thursday released by the Manatee County Property Appraiser's Office, and the recent weakness of that market continues, although prices rose in the past year.

In May, 515 single-family homes were sold in the county, a 46.2% drop from last year's 959. The median single-family home price was $315,000, a 9.4% increase from a year earlier. In the condominium sector, 210 were sold, compared with 336 in May 2005, a 37.5% decline.

Prices for condos increased by 18% to a median of $212,900, up from $180,000 a year ago. In notes accompanying the report, Dale Friedley of the Property Appraiser's Office said that the substantial drop-off in sales continues and will likely get larger as the area head into June and July, the peak for sales in 2005.

By M. Sese
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