Prices for previously owned homes on the Big Island surged more than 40 percent in each of the last two months, pushing the median price for single-family homes above $400,000 for the first time.

Single-family home sale prices in August soared to a record median of $440,450, then softened a bit to $427,500 in September, according to statistics released yesterday by Hawai'i Information Service.

The August and September figures were 49 percent and 43 percent higher, respectively, than they were during the same months last year.

For condos, the median price set consecutive records of $424,900 in August and $432,500 in September, which was up 70 percent and 40 percent, respectively, over the year-earlier periods.

The median is a point at which half the homes sold for more and half for less.

Hawai'i Information Service reported the number of sales last week.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.