Total housing inventory at the end of June rose 0.2 percent to 4.49 million existing homes available for sale, which represents an 11.1.-month supply at the current sales pace, up from a 10.8-month supply in May.

The national median existing home price for all housing types was $215,100 in June, down 6.1 percent from a year ago when the median was $229,000.

Despite the overall sales decline, unpublished snapshot data shows existing-home sales rising significantly from a year ago in Bakersfield, Calif.; Fort Myers, Fla.; and Las Vegas.

?EUR??,,????'??Sales are now beginning to pick up in Orlando, Fla., Phoenix, and Oakland, Calif.,?EUR??,,????'?? Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said. ?EUR??,,????'??Interestingly, sales fell in Atlanta, Houston, and Kansas City, Mo., despite affordable home prices and solid local employment conditions.?EUR??,,????'??

Single-family home sales declined 3.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.27 million in June from 4.41 million in May, and are 14.8 percent below the 5.01 million-unit pace in June 2007. The median existing single-family home price was $213,800 in June, which is down 6.7 percent from a year ago.

Existing condominium and co-op sales rose 1.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 590,000 units in June from 580,000 in May, but are 19.7 percent below the 735,000-unit level a year ago. The median existing condo price was $224,200 in June, which is 2.2 percent lower than June 2007.

Regionally, existing home sales in the West rose one percent in June to a pace of 1.03 million but are 6.4 percent lower than a year ago. The median price in the West was $288,400, which is 17.2 percent below June 2007.

In the South, existing home sales fell 3.1 percent to an annual rate of 1.85 million in June, and are 18.1 percent below June 2007. The median price in the South was $185,300, down 2.4 percent from a year ago.

Existing home sales in the Midwest declined 3.4 percent to an annual pace of 1.12 million in June, and are 17.6 percent below a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $175,300, up 2.8 percent from June 2007.

In the Northeast, existing home sales fell 6.6 percent to an annual rate of 850,000 in June, and are 15.8 percent below June 2007. The median price in the Northeast was $256,700, down 12.6 percent from June 2007.