Despite a September dip in home sales across Southwest Florida from August — a lull experts say is typical this time of year — year-over-year figures show the real estate market continues to strengthen as inventory levels drop, sales improve and prices steadily edge upward, according to local housing reports released Friday.

The Realtor associations of Charlotte and Sarasota counties each reported year-over-year, closed-sale increases in September in both the single-family and condo markets. Homes prices too showed steady — albeit modest — increases from last year, and inventory levels are at historically low levels, the associations noted.