News

Mass. home sales up, median price up

BOSTON (AP) — The median price of a single-family home in Massachusetts shot up more than 10 percent last month compared to the year-ago month, another indication that the state's housing market is on the way to recovery.

The Boston-based Warren Group on Thursday reported that median prices rose 12 percent when compared to December 2011, to $300,000. That's the highest since August and the highest December mark since 2007.

The Waltham-based Massachusetts Association of Realtors reported a 10 percent jump in median prices to $303,500.

The groups use slightly different figures in their calculations.

The Warren Group reported an 18 percent jump in sales last month compared to the previous December, while the Realtors reported a 13 percent jump in December, when sales were up year-over-year for the 18th consecutive month.