Anxiety about the housing market seems to be subsiding as real estate markets across the nation and in Jefferson County did better than expected in 2013.
Tony Bilz, outgoing president of the Jefferson County Board of Realtors, said he's seen the market improve over the last several years.
"Rest assured, Madison and Jefferson County sales were up last year. It has gotten better," he said.
Bilz said last year's closings were up 8.8 percent, and from November 2012 to October 2013, closings increased from 271 to 283 in the county.
He also said that between August 2012 and October 2013 the median sales price for homes in Jefferson County rose 4.7 percent.
"I can see a significant increase in sales going through this downturn. It's definitely become positive again," he said. "I can't predict what's going to happen this year. I don't know interest rates or where the economy is going to go. I just have to wait and see. But, it's definitely gotten better."
Home sales across the state have seen trends similar to Jefferson County's.
In a report from the Indiana Association of Realtors, housing price appreciation is up 6.4 percent in the U.S. and 3.1 percent in Indiana from the second quarter of 2012 to the second quarter of 2013.
The same report said "home sales from July 2012 to June 2013 were up more than 20 percent," and in that time the median price for a home in Indiana rose from $114,000 to $118,000.
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