Illinois sees gains in home sales for the year

From Illinois Business Journal news services

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois home sales and prices climbed higher in December and capped off a 2015 housing market that showed total year-end sales and median price gains surpassing 2014, according to the Illinois Association of Realtors.

Statewide home sales (including single-family homes and condominiums) in December 2015 totaled 11,709 homes sold, up 1.0 percent from 11,588 in December 2014. Year-end 2015 home sales totaled 155,676, up 5.9 percent from 147,051 in 2014.

The statewide median price in December was $165,000, up 7.1 percent from December 2014 when the median price was $154,000. The year-end 2015 median price reached $173,000, up 8.1 percent from $160,000 in 2014.