October sales of single-family homes in Massachusetts jumped 17.2 percent to 4,295 from 3,664 in October 2008 – the highest number of sales for the month of October since 2005 and the biggest increase in year-over-year sales so far in 2009, said the Warren Group, which added that a federal tax credit for first-time home buyers helped stimulate sales.

October was the fourth consecutive month that single-family home sales climbed, and condo sales also increased, said the Warren Group, a Boston firm that tracks local real estate activity and publishes Banker & Tradesman.

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