Mass. Home Sales Climb In Sept.

Sales of single-family homes in Massachusetts were up in September, the third straight month of increased sales when compared to the year-ago month.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors reported Tuesday that sales of single-family homes jumped nearly 10 percent last month when compared to September 2010.

The Boston-based Warren Group, which tracks the state's real estate market, reported a 7 percent increase.

The two organizations use slightly different figures to make their calculations.

The boost was credited to historically low interest rates. And last year's numbers were low because the first-time homebuyer tax credit had expired, according to The Warren Group.

Vincent Valvo, with The Warren Group, said the state's housing market is still fairly depressed.

"I don't think it tells a story that's any better than what we saw last year," he said. "You have a lot of would-be buyers out there that aren't willing to take that plunge into the market right now."

Valvo said the state is on track to hit a record-low number of home sales this year.

The realtors group reported a nearly 2 percent increase in the median sales price to almost $295,000. The Warren Group said median prices were up slightly.

Condominium prices were also up, but while the realtors association said condo sales increased, The Warren Group reported they were down.

With reporting by The Associated Press and the WBUR Newsroom