Sales of condominium units were the bright spot in the May Maui home sales picture, as compiled by the Realtors Association of Maui Inc.

Sales of condominium units rose 5.7 percent in May, with 111 units sold versus 105 in the year-ago period.

The $349,000 median condo price in May was up from April’s $338,603 but was 14.9 percent below the year-ago price of $410,000.

The increase could be attributed in part to vigorous home-showing activity within the last few months, which has begun paying off in terms of sales, according to the Realtors Association of Maui Inc. "The next few months will reveal if this is just an uptick or a trend that lasts," the RAM report observed.

Inventories have declined in the past 12 months and include many short sales and bank-owned properties, which will need to run their course before the marketplace gets back to normal, the association observed. Short sales and foreclosures can require additional hurdles for buyers as well as more time, sometimes four to six months, to close.

Sales of single-family homes were down for the second straight month this year, falling 13.6 percent, to 70 from 81 — by far the largest percentage drop of the year. The 81 units sold in May 2010 reflected a 35 percent increase over May 2009.

The $421,000 median price last month was a 4.6 percent drop from the year-ago figure of $442,000. The May 2009 median was $482,500.

Maui’s median home sale price peaked at $690,000 in 2006. The median condo price hit a peak of $550,000 in 2007.

Because the Maui marketplace is significantly smaller than Oahu’s, the association points out that a few high or low sales have a greater impact on statistics, without necessarily indicating a market swing.

Real estate professionals are still seeing "a lot of people looking, and a lot of multiple offers on properties," said Terry Tolman, chief staff executive of the Realtors Association of Maui.