The latest “Indiana Real Estate Markets Report” from the Indiana Association of REALTORS (IAR) said Indiana home sales in December 2009 increased 4.1%, and media prices rose 11.2%, compared to December 2008.

This is the third consecutive month that there has been an increase in sales over the previous year and the second consecutive month that there has been an increase in median prices. “December’s numbers were an encouraging way to end 2009,” said Karl Berron, Chief Executive Officer.

“While October’s and November’s numbers can be linked to a rush towards the original deadline for the first-time homebuyer tax credit, December hopefully shows Indiana’s housing markets are continuing to turn around, as well as bringing some needed momentum moving into a new year,” he said.

The Report, found online at www.IndianaIsHome.com, is the first-ever county-by-county comparison of existing single-family home sales in Indiana.

IAR obtains the data directly from the state’s 23 largest Multiple Listing Services (MLSs) and the Broker Listing Cooperative in central Indiana. The Report represents 98% of the housing market statewide.