Buyers from across the nation and around the world snapped up bargain-priced homes in Lee County in December, pushing sales up 146 percent from a year ago.

Realtors assisted in the selling of 1,064 homes in Lee in December - up from 432 in December 2007 - according to the Florida Association of Realtors. Last month, 600 existing homes were sold.

The median sales price fell 50 percent to $106,900, from $215,200 in December 2007. The median price was essentially flat from November, up about $800.

For the year, 8,217 existing homes sold in Lee, up 43 percent from the 5,753 in 2007. The median price was $158,200, down 38 percent from $254,700 in 2007.

"For the past six months, it seems like every month has been better than the last," said Valerie Busic, a Realtor with Busic, Chesser & Associates.