The housing market trend of higher prices but fewer sales continued on Maui, the Big Island and Kaua'i last month.

July's median price for previously owned single-family Maui homes tied the record set in May 2005 at $780,000, up from $750,000 in June and $642,600 in July 2005.

But there were 30 percent fewer single-family home sales on the Valley Isle: 88 in July compared with 125 a year earlier.

Maui condominium sales fell even further, dropping 66 percent to 78 in July from 228 a year earlier. The 78 July sales were the fewest in any month since January 2002, according to the Realtors Association of Maui.

The median Maui condo price last month was $525,000, which was off the record $645,000 set in June but up from $380,000 in July 2005.

Keone Ball, Realtors Association of Maui president, said July sales reflect what he predicts will be a low point for the year.

"A couple of months ago, the market was just dead," he said, referring to sales agreements that typically take two months to close and would be recorded as completed sales in July.

Ball, broker-in-charge at Carol Ball & Associates, said prices more recently are softening and spurring more sales, a trend he expects to show up in September and October sale statistics.

"There's a correction going on," he said, noting that he's witnessed deals where sellers accept offers $100,000 below asking price. "There's price reductions all over the place."

For July, however, Maui's higher prices and fewer sales for homes largely mirrored activity on the Big Island and Kaua'i reported by Hawaii Information Service.

A big swing occurred in Big Island condo sales, which fell 63 percent to 38 transactions, compared with 104 a year earlier. The median price surged 70 percent to $584,750, compared with $344,500 a year earlier.

The number of single-family homes sold in July on the Big Island declined 42 percent to 151 from 262 a year earlier. The median price was up 8 percent last month to $400,000 over $369,500 a year earlier.

On Kaua'i, condo sales declined 46 percent to 42 last month, compared with 78 a year earlier. The median price was $459,000, up 4 percent from $440,000 in the same period.

Kaua'i single-family sales were down 38 percent to 31 in July, compared with 50 a year earlier. The median price was $735,000, up 6 percent from $695,000 a year earlier.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.