Sales of existing homes and condos in Atlantic and Cape May counties increased 17 percent in April from a year ago, continuing a positive trend from the start of the year, according to data from the local Multiple Listing Service.

Also, the National Association of Realtors reported Tuesday that the national real estate picture improved last month, although sales of previously owned homes are still far below healthy market levels.

Nationwide sales in April increased 3 percent from March and 10 percent from a year ago, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.6 million units, the trade association reported.

In the region, Realtors said a strong late winter and early spring for second-home sales continued through April and showed marked improvement from this time last year.

At Prudential Fox Roach Realtors in Margate, office manager Margaret Guber-Nulty said unit sales were up nearly 64 percent — from 48 in April of 2011 to 79 last month. Most were in the Margate, Ventnor and Longport areas.

Second-home buyers are driving this market, as is the desire for the new owners to close on the properties before summer, she said.

“People are getting ready for the summer, and interest rates are at their lowest,” she said.

April capped a solid four months at Ferguson Dechert Real Estate in the high-end coastal home markets that are Avalon and Stone Harbor, said Allan Dechert, co-owner.

In each month this year, at least 30 properties were under contract, a benchmark reached only five other months in the last six years, Dechert said.

The average sale in the resort area is about $1 million a home in the mid-price range, although multi-million dollar home sales have also begun to pick up, he said.

“We’re starting to see some of the bigger money come back to the marketplace,” he said.

Dechert referred to a Florida economist who dubbed these wealthy buyers as “patient money,” waiting out the market.

“That’s kind of what we’re seeing — people were waiting until they saw what was a good time,” he said. “There seems to be some real pent-up demand.”

At Grace Realty in Ocean City, broker and co-owner Harry Vanderslice said shoppers had begun buying higher-priced properties.

“In Ocean City for the last three of four years, the major thrust of the sales was in the $300,000 to $600,000 range,” he said. “And now you’re seeing some of the beachfront people coming back, the bayfront people coming back, and some of the higher-priced people into the game.”

Interest rates hit a historic low Tuesday, an average of 3.79 percent for 30-year fixed-rate mortgates.

According to the local Multiple Listing Service, 243 homes were sold in Atlantic County in April, 35 more than in April 2011.

These included 43 homes and condominiums in Margate, 28 in Brigantine, and 32 in Egg Harbor Township, according to MLS listings. The figures do not include homes not sold through the service.

In Cape May County, 290 homes were sold through MLS listings in April, 43 more than a year ago.

Cumberland County saw a slight drop — three fewer homes sold — last month from April 2011.

Meanwhile, data from the National Association of Realtors earlier this month said median home prices in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties increased 4 percent in the first quarter compared with the same period a year earlier.

The median price was $220,600, meaning half the homes sold for more, half for less.

Contact Brian Ianieri:

609-272-7253

BIanieri@pressofac.com