Local homes sales were up over the first six months of 2011, and local real estate agents hope for more of the same in the second half.

St. Clair County sales totaled 237 in June and 223 homes were sold last month in Madison County. That gave St. Clair County 1,039 for the year so far compared to 1,011 from the first half of 2011. In Madison County, sales recorded between January and June totaled 1,219, compared to 1,086 during that same span the year before.

"I think that we could be in for an exciting second half of the year," said Al Suguitan, president and chief operating officer of the Greater Gateway Association of Realtors in Glen Carbon.

In Belleville, Realtor Association of Southwestern Illinois President Christopher Mitchell said conditions remain strong for buyers. According to the Illinois Association of Realtors, interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages sank to 3.67 percent last month.

"We are excited to see the continuation of increase in home sales every month and compared to last year," Mitchell said in a released statement. "The current market offers a wide variety of encouraging factors for buying and selling a home."

Year-over-year, 37 more homes were sold in St. Clair County last month compared to June 2011, and six more homes were sold in Madison County in that span.

In St. Clair County, median home prices -- the price at which exactly half sold for more and half sold for less -- increased by 2.5 percent between June 2011 and June 2012. In Madison County, the median price dropped by 9.2 percent in that time.

"I like to think that home sales continue to show increases, small increases, but still increases across the board," Suguitan said. "And then, we'll see."

Contact reporter Will Buss at wbuss@bnd.com or 239-2526.