The metro-east housing market is off to its best start in five years.

The 183 homes sold in January in Madison County -- and the 158 homes sold throughout St. Clair County during the first month of 2013 -- mark the highest number of homes sold during the month since 2007.

Connie Stellhorn, president of the Realtor Association of Southwestern Illinois in Belleville, said the recent sales stats reflect the rebound and the momentum that St. Clair County housing market witnessed during the final months of 2012.

"We are excited to see positive numbers in home sales in the metro-east," Stellhorn said in a released statement.

In Glen Carbon, Greater Gateway Association of Realtors President and Chief Operating Officer Al Suguitan said the 183 sales recorded in Madison County is another sign of improving home sales.

"All of the movement is upward," Suguitan said. "I feel very comfortable about it and that we're moving in the right direction. We are not going down. That is a positive sign."

Both Realtor associations anticipate the local housing market's reccent gradual improvement will continue into this year.

"We are gearing up for spring, which is generally the busiest time of the year for real estate," Stellhorn said. "With historically low interest rates, affordable home prices and a plentiful option of home choices, now is a great time to buy or sell your home."

Last year, both counties recorded year-over-year sales increases over 2011. In St. Clair County, home sales increased from 1,975 in 2011 to 2,182 in 2012. In Madison County, homes sales went up from 2,330 to 2,658 in that span.

Metro-east home sales

2009 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

St. Clair 126 133 168 193 204 241 243 236 204 241 261 168

Madison 148 154 167 240 262 233 297 224 279 298 253 179

2010 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

St. Clair 103 153 197 255 263 253 172 196 168 143 153 173

Madison 122 140 262 286 299 264 186 190 194 208 269 180

2011 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

St. Clair 122 153 173 179 184 200 171 176 163 166 129 159

Madison 98 158 188 228 197 217 196 263 211 186 178 210

2012 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

St. Clair 122 144 177 175 184 237 217 234 171 193 160 168

Madison 137 190 219 208 242 223 287 273 207 240 210 215

2013 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

St. Clair 158

Madison 183

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

St. Clair 3,388 3,044 2,478 2,430 2,261 1,975 2,182

Madison 3,605 3,325 2,724 2,698 2,495 2,330 2,658

Source: Realtor Association of Southwestern Illinois/Greater Gateway Association of Realtors

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