More than 1,700 homes pended in January, with all but three Central Indiana counties reporting increased sales compared to the same time period last year, according to statistics compiled by F.C. Tucker Company. Overall, January 2015 pended home sales rose 4.7 percent over January 2014 to 1,702, an increase of 76 homes sold in the nine counties that F.C. Tucker tracks.

Overall, sales prices for the nine-county Central Indiana area increased by 1.5 percent. In Hamilton County, home sales prices last month were up 1.6 percent to $271,883 compared to January 2014. Still within the county, there were fluctuations:

• In Carmel, home sales prices dipped 5.6 percent to $331,154 from $350,831 compared to January of last year.
• Inventory is moving quickly in Carmel. Last month, homes sold in 78 days on average – 22 days faster than January 2014.
• More homes have been placed on the market. In Carmel, 456 homes were available for sale last month, an increase of 45 homes compared to January 2014.
• Pended sales in Carmel have decreased. In January 2015, 85 homes sold, a decrease of 14 homes compared to January 2014.

Home sales are on par with what we’ve experienced typically in January. Whether home sales surge during the rest of the year will depend on a number of factors, including consumer confidence and economic stability, but we continue to be optimistic