(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – Dearborn and Ripley counties saw busier than normal activity in January, according to new home sales statistics for Indiana.

The monthly report by the Indiana Association of Realtors – which tracks the sales of single family homes, townhomes, and condominiums – shows that 28 homes were sold in Dearborn County last month. That’s a 55 percent increase compared to January of 2012. Ripley County had 20 sales last month, good for an 81 percent increase from a year ago.

Not all news was good news, however. The median selling prices in both counties were down compared to last year. The price fell about 10 percent in Dearborn County to $121,500 while Ripley County homes traded about 50 percent to $84,500.

Switzerland County saw six home sales in January, up from two in the same month a year ago. Ohio and Franklin county realtors each reported one home sale, both the same amount as last year.

Statewide, the number of closed home sales increased 22.9 percent to 4,222 in January. The median selling price increased 5.9 percent to $108,000. Indiana has now seen 19 consecutive months of homes sales increases, while median selling prices have risen each of the past 14 months.

The trend is welcomed by Indiana Association of Realtors President Kevin Kirkpatrick.

“2012 started strong and ended strong, beating the two prior years with regard to market activity and home prices,” said Kirkpatrick. “2013 is off to an even better start than last year, making members very optimistic for the year ahead.”

Home sales stats for southeast Indiana counties can be found below.