Property sale prices and quantities are steady in the Western Bay country, Mount Maunganui and Papamoa areas, but down steeply in other Tauranga areas according to the latest figures from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand.

In Western Bay of Plenty country, the median price rose from $367,500 in the three month period ending December 2010 to $392,500 in the just passed January period, and this is up on the median sale price of $361,000 for the January 2010 period.

From 46 in the December period, sales volumes remain steady with 44 in the January 2011 period – the same as the January 2010 period.

The median sale price for a house in Mount Maunganui and Papamoa eased from $410,000 in the December period to $406,250 in the January period, but this is up on the January 2010 median of $395,500.

At 44, sales are down on the 49 in December period, but up on the 40 sold in the January 2010 period.

In Tauranga, the median price decreased to $320,000 in the three month period ending January 2011 from $379,500 in the December period.

It is also down on the January 2010 period median sale price of $349,000.

Property sales decreased from 84 in the December period to 66 in the January period; also down on the January 2010 figure of 79.