SOUTH PORTLAND — Single-family existing home sales in Maine rose by more than 10 percent in 2009, over 2008 figures, with Androscoggin and Oxford counties seeing double-digit increases, while Franklin County sales decreased.

The data comes from the Maine Real Estate Information System Inc., a subsidiary of the Maine Association of Realtors, and compares total Maine sales for the two years.

While sales increased statewide, overall purchase prices for homes sold decreased about 9 percent in 2009, over 2008, with a median price of $164,000. Median sales price indicates that half of the homes were sold for more and half sold for less. For Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties, prices in 2009 declined in a range from about 6 percent to about 12 percent.

According to The National Association of Realtors, 2009 nationwide sales increased 5 percent over 2008, while the single-family national median sales price declined 11.9 percent to $173,200.

For the month of December 2009, Maine Realtors reported 852 home sales, up 35.89 percent from December 2008. The median sales price for December was up 1.54 percent over 2009, to $165,000.