The number of single-family homes put under agreement in October went up for the sixth straight month compared to the same time in 2010. Condominium pending sales were down from October 2010, according to the Massachusetts Association of Realtors (MAR).

The number of single-family homes put under agreement in October rose 6.2 percent to 3,857, compared to 3,631 during the same month in 2010. This is the sixth straight month of year-over-year increases. On a month-to-month basis, single-family homes put under agreement were down 2 percent from 3,936 homes in September.

"Six straight months of year-over-year pending sales increases is another small positive step in the recovery of the housing market," said 2011 MAR President Laurie Cadigan, broker-owner of Barrett & Co. in Concord. "Hopefully these historically low interest rates and affordable home prices will continue to bring qualified buyers back into the market going forward."

The number of condos put under agreement in October dropped 2 percent to 1,329, compared to 1,360 in October 2010. On a month-to-month basis, condos put under agreement were up 5.6 percent from 1,258 units in September.