The Peoria Area Association of Realtors is reporting marked improvement in the housing market for January. The group recently reported a ten-percent increase in home sales compared to the same time last year. That amounts to 21 more homes sold in that time. Laura Martin is the president of the association.

"You can tell when the economy is turning around and the housing market's turning around when your month's supplies of houses are becoming less. So last year, it was eight months was the average supply of houses and now it's six-point-seven; and pending sales are up by a little over fifteen-percent," says

Martin says the increase is attributed to a boost in the local economy, better consumer confidence, and warmer winter weather conditions. She says home prices have also showed positive gains. The average sale price went up nearly four-percent.