Existing home sales in the Sarasota-Bradenton market fell in the fourth quarter to 1,676 from 1,959 during the same period in 2006, according to the Florida Association of Realtors.

The median sales price for the quarter finished at $259,1000, a drop from $282,300 the year before.

On the bright side, condo sales in the fourth quarter increased to 661, up from 653 last year. The median sales price, however, declined $230,500 from $245,800 during the fourth quarter of 2006.

Statewide, sales of single-family existing homes totaled 26,130 during the three-month period, a decrease of 31 percent compared with 37,879 homes sold during the same time a year earlier. The statewide existing-home median sales price was $216,000 in the fourth quarter; a year ago, it was $239,800.

Condo sales across the state also dropped to 7,923 from 10,820 in the fourth quarter 2006. Median sales prices statewide were $189,600, down from $205,80 the previous year.