The number of single-family homes put under agreement in December rose 5.6 percent compared to the same month a year earlier, according to the Massachusetts Association of Realtors.
That marks the first significant year-over-year increase in the figure in seven months, according to the Association.ÂÂ
Despite the year ending on a strong note for agreements, in all of 2010 the number of homes put under agreement fell by 2.5 percent compared to 2009. The number of homes put under agreement in December was also down 15 percent from November’s figure.
While the housing market had a strong December for agreements, the condominium market continued to struggle, with agreements off 16 percent compared to the year earlier and the month prior. For the year, condo agreements were down 6.7 percent.
