SPARKS — The Reno/Sparks Association of Realtors (RSAR) on Friday reported that Sparks and Spanish Springs single-family home sales dropped 16 percent in the first quarter of 2010 from the last quarter of 2009 but were up from the first quarter of 2009.

The RSAR’s report is on home sales for the month of March and for the first quarter of 2010. There were 372 sales of existing single-family homes in 2010’s first quarter, an increase of 19 percent from last year. The Sparks median sales price for an existing single-family residence in the first quarter of 2010 was $164,995, a decrease of 15 percent from last year and a 3 percent decrease from the fourth quarter of 2009. The existing condominium/townhome median sales price for the 2010 first quarter in Sparks was $62,000, down 31 percent from last year.

For the month of March, Sparks and Spanish Springs saw 144 sales of existing single-family homes, an increase of 19 percent from March 2009 and a 21 percent increase from the previous month. The Sparks’ median sales price for an existing single family residence in March was $163,250, a 16 percent decrease from March 2009 and a 1 percent decrease from the previous month. The existing condominium/townhome median sales price for March 2010 in Sparks was $55,000, down 43 percent from last year.

RSAR obtains its information from the Northern Nevada Regional Multiple Listing Service (www.nnrmls.com) and includes sales of bank-owned (foreclosure) properties. For more information, visit www.rsar.net.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported Friday that sales of new homes took the biggest monthly jump in 47 years in March, while orders for most large manufactured products rose by the largest amount since the recession started.

While factories are benefiting from a sharp increase in orders from U.S. and foreign businesses, the fuel for new home sales is coming from a less sustainable source: government subsidies.

Some analysts predict demand for homes will fall again over the summer, preventing the beleaguered sector from adding much to the economic recovery.

The Commerce Department said Friday that new home sales skyrocketed 27 percent in March, bouncing off the February’s record low. The figure blew past expectations as better weather and government incentives boosted sales.