Iowa Home prices were up significantly in December compared with the previous year, while the number of sales held steady, the Iowa Association of Realtors (IAR) reported.

According to the IAR’s December 2012 Housing Trends Report, the average sale price rose 11.6 percent to $149,946 in December 2012 from December 2011. The number of sales inched up 0.8 percent from last year, with 21 more homes selling last month than in December 2011.

The supply of inventory in December was 6.1 months, down 18 percent from December 2011.  A six months’ supply represents an even buyer/seller market.