Prices of homes sold last month in Venice were up almost 7 percent said Roxie Larain, president of the Venice Area Board of Realtors.

The average price increased to $165,664 during December 2011, compared to $154,933 the previous year. Listings in December were 236, down 7.1 percent compared to a year ago. The two months’ sales were 171 in 2011 and 176 in 2010, a decrease of 2.8 percent.