The Massachusetts Association of Realtors (MAR) reported today that the April Realtor Market Confidence Index (RMCI) was down for the sixth straight month. The Realtor Price Confidence Index (RPCI) also decreased in April, for the first time in 26 months.

"A drop in price confidence could indicate that the inventory of homes for sale is starting to move in a positive direction for homebuyers," 2014 MAR President Peter Ruffini, regional vice president at Jack Conway & Co., said in a statement. "However, if financing continues to be difficult for buyers to obtain, an increase in inventory may not result in an increase in sales."

In April 2014, the RMCI was 66.89, which was down 16 percent from the April 2013 score of 79.14. This is the sixth straight month that the RMCI has gone down. On a month-to-month basis, the April RMCI was down four percent from the 69.5 score in March 2014. This is the third straight month that the RMCI has been over the 60-point mark since October 2013.

The RPCI was 77.81 in April, down five percent from the April 2013 RPCI of 81.47. This is the first decrease in the index after 26 straight months of year-over-year gains. However, this is the 14th straight month over the 70-point mark. On a month-to-month basis, the RPCI was down two percent from the March 2014 RPCI of 79.69.

The monthly "Hot Topic" question asked members to compare their clients’ ability to secure financing in the current lending environment against the same time last year. Of those members who responded, 46 percent reported their clients’ access to financing was either significantly more difficult (9.3 percent) or somewhat more difficult (37.7 percent) compared with the same time last year. Forty-four percent reported no change from last year, while just over 9 percent reported that access to financing was easier.