Miami-area home sales rose above a year earlier for the 11th consecutive month in March amid sizeable gains in mid- to high-end activity and a record level of sales to investors and other absentee buyers. The median price paid for a home rose 14.1 percent from a year ago, marking the 15th month in a row with a year-over-year increase, a real estate information service reported. 

In March, 10,215 new and resale houses and condos closed escrow in the metro area encompassing Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward counties. March sales rose 18.8 percent from the prior month and rose 7.1 percent from a year earlier.