ALBANY — Despite statewide drops in both homes sold and average prices over the past two years, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties held their own during the first six months of 2008.

In a report out Wednesday, the New York State Association of Realtors said home sales and selling prices in the north country fluctuated during the first half of this year. How many homes changed hands and at what price varied widely by county.

Home sales in St. Lawrence County declined, with 280 sold during the first half of this year, versus 333 during the first two quarters of last year and 324 in the first six months of 2006. The county's median sale price, however, has risen 13.8 percent over two years — to $82,250 for the first half of 2008, compared with $73,900 and $72,251 for the first halves of 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Between Jan. 1 and June 30, 459 existing single-family homes were sold in Jefferson County, down from 495 during the first half of 2007, but up slightly from 454 during the same period in 2006. The county's median sale price, however, has increased consistently to $129,000 for the first half of this year, up from $120,000 for the comparable period of 2007 and $113,250 for the same six months of 2006.

In Lewis County, 75 homes were sold through June of this year, up from both the 52 sold during the first six months of 2007 and the 61 sold during the comparable 2006 period. Lewis's median sale price was $94,000 for the first half of this year, $95,750 for the first half of last year, and $82,500 for the first six months of 2006.

Statewide, 35,225 homes changed hands during the two quarters of this year, down from 43,556 and 46,819 homes sold during the comparable periods of 2007 and 2006, respectively. This represents a 24.8 percent, two-year skid.

The state median price slid 14.7 percent over the past two years, to $215,000 for the first half of this year, versus $250,000 for the first six months of 2007 and $252,000 for the comparable 2006 period.

Mortgage rates increased during the second quarter to 6.88 percent for a conventional 30-year mortgage in June, up from 6.54 percent in April. A one-year adjustable rate mortgage carried a 6.19 percent rate in June, up from 6.12 percent in April.