The Northeast Association of Realtors said yesterday that sales of single-family homes and condominiums in 15 cities and towns from Boxford to Littleton increased by double-digits during the first quarter, up 19 percent and 15 percent, respectively from the same period last year.

During March, single family home sales rose 10 percent versus the previous March, while condominium sales slipped by 1 percent compared with last March. The report is based on data from MLS Property Information Network in Shrewsbury.

The report also noted that the median price for single family homes sold during the first quarter, at $265,000, represented a decline of 8 percent compared with the previous year’s first quarter, while the median condominium sales price of $160,000 for the quarter dropped by 3 percent versus the same period last year. 

The median price of single family homes sold in the area in March was $259,950, a drop of 9.2 percent from the $286,250 median sales price in March 2011, and a decline of 1.9 percent versus the median price of $265,000 for single family homes sold in February.  Meanwhile, the median price of area condominiums sold in March was $166,250, a decrease of 7.6 percent versus last March, but an increase of 19.6 percent compared with February’s median sales price of $139,000.  

The average length of time it took to sell a home in the area in March was 136 days for single family homes, a decrease of 4 percent over last March. It took an average of 142 days for the condominiums sold during March to close, a decrease of 2 percent compared with last March.