Mass. Realtor confidence up

WALTHAM, Mass. – Realtor confidence in the Massachusetts housing market increased in November compared with the same time last year, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors said Tuesday.

The association reported a 36 percent increase in confidence as measured by its Realtor Market Index, which ended the month at 25.24, up from 18.56 last November. It was the fourth straight year-over-year monthly gain for the Index, which measures Realtor confidence on sale of zero to 100.

“It makes sense that as the number of sales goes up each month our members’ confidence in the market goes up as well,” said Massachusetts Association of Realtors President Laurie Cadigan. “These Realtors reflect the attitude of buyers and sellers in the marketplace.”

At the same time confidence was up, the Association’s Price Index, which measures Realtors’ expectations for home prices in the next year, was down 1 percent in November compared with the same time last year.