Home-sale agreements in the nine-county Indianapolis area ticked up 3.6 percent in July compared with the same month last year, marking the third straight month of year-over-year increases after 14 months of declining sales.

Sales agreements climbed to 1,833 last month, an increase of 64 homes over July 2010, according to a report released Thurday by F.C. Tucker Co.

While higher than a year ago, July’s sales were about 22 percent below what they were in the same month of 2009, when 2,351 home-sales agreements were reached.

Year-to-date sales agreements are down 6.7 percent compared to the same period of 2010.

Marion County saw a 5.4-percent rise in July sales agreements from a year earlier, from 747 to 787. Hamilton County deals dropped 4.2 percent, from 402 to 385. Hancock County saw a 44-percent increase, from 59 to 85.

Available homes for sale in the nine-county region dropped 11 percent in July, with 15,431 homes on the market. Marion County’s inventory dropped 14.8 percent.

Year-to-date sale prices are up 1.6 percent in 2011, from $148,759 to $151,157.

So far this year, sales agreements have been reached on 71 homes in the area priced at $500,000 or more.