Realtor’s confidence increased again in February, according to the Massachusetts Association of Realtors (MAR), the seventh straight month of year-over-year increases, according to the association’s Realtor market index (RMI). Realtors also felt confident in increasing prices, with the Realtor price index (RPI) rising above 50 for the first time in nearly two years.

"Not having a true winter, along with our historically-low interest rates and relatively affordable prices, has been responsible for significant increase in activity, and Realtors across the state are feeling it," said 2012 MAR President Trisha McCarthy, broker at Keller Williams Realty in Newburyport. "Realtors who responded to the survey feel more confident about prices stabilizing as the combination of activity and current inventory levels are increasing demand."

The market index is pegged to a 100 point scale, with 100 being very strong and 0 very weak. In February 2012, the RMI was 39.47, up 40.7 percent from the February 2011 score of 28.1.  The last time there was a stretch of six straight months of year-over-year increases was November 2009-May 2010. On a month-to-month basis, the February RMI was up 24 percent from the 31.9 score in January 2012.

The similarly graded price index was 54.9 in February, up 16.7 percent from the February 2011 RPI of 46.9. On a month-to-month basis, the RPI was up 19.1 percent from the January 2012 RPI of 46. February was the first month since April 2010 that the RPI was over the 50-point mark on the 100-point scale. 

MAR also surveys its members about the potential impact of legislation proposed by U.S. Sen. Scott Brown to improve the short sale process. A strong majority thought a new law could help, with 82 percent of respondents saying the that the market would improve. Of the rest, 16 percent reported that there would be no change in the market, while 5 percent thought the market would go down.