For the first time since April, the Realtor Market Index is up on a month-to-month basis, according to the Massachusetts Association of Realtors (MAR).

The index was down compared to the same time last year, according to a statement. For October, the index was 20.75, a 39.3 percent decrease from the 34.2 score recorded in October 2009.

"While the Realtor Market Index has been down each month since the tax credit expired on a year-over-year basis, we did see an increase month-to-month for the first time since this past April," said 2010 MAR President Kevin Sears, broker and co-owner of Springfield’s Sears Real Estate. "Whether it has been the historically low interest rates or the fact that the Massachusetts unemployment levels continue to slowly improve, it is a positive sign and something to be optimistic about."

The Realtor Price Index (RPI) was down 9.78 percent in October compared to the same time last year, according to a statement. This is the fourth straight month the RPI has gone decreased. On a month-to-month basis, the index number was up 0.79 percent.