The number of homes sold in Austin dropped last month, continuing a trend from the second half of 2012.

There were 17 homes sold in January, down from 26 in January 2012, according to data released Tuesday by the Southeast Minnesota Association of Realtors. For 2012, there were 362 homes sold, up 1.4 percent from 357 in 2011, but 172 sold during the last six months of 2012, compared to 186 during that same span in 2011.

While January’s numbers were down, homes sold much quicker, on average 65 days after owners listed them, compared to 149 days in January 2012.

In Rochester, there were 96 homes sold in January, compared to 90 in 2012. Last month, there were 15 sold in Owatonna, 10 in Winona and nine in Albert Lea.