Thinking about buying a house? If the answer is yes, apparently, you’re not alone.

Last year was a banner one for housing sales in York County, where sales of existing single family homes were up 9.88 percent from 2013, according to a report from the Maine Association of Realtors.

Those in the business say sales in the county have been good since last fall, and they’re looking forward to an even more robust 2015.

“I’m feeling positive about the market,” Greg Gosselin, president of the York County Council of Realtors and principal of Gosselin Realty Group in York, said on the telephone Wednesday. “We have great interest rates, there’s money available and the price of fuel is down. So you have a stronger feeling about the economy in general, and more confidence.”

Elias Thomas of Exit Realty in Shapleigh, who is beginning his 46th year in the real-estate industry, said his office is busy with listings, showings and buyer clients.

“I’m encouraged that maybe we’re tuning that corner of recovery,” Thomas, a trustee of both the York County Council of Realtors and a board member of the Maine Association of Realtors, said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

Overall, there were 2,513 existing single-family homes sold in York County in 2014 ”“ up from 2,287 in 2013 ”“ according to statistics released by the Maine Association of Realtors. The median price was down a bit ­”“ from $220,000 to $215,000. In other words, half of the homes sold for more than $215,000, and half sold for more.

Statewide, sales of existing singe family homes were up 7.91 percent in 2014; the $175,000 median price from 2013 didn’t change. In December, statewide figures show overall sales up 9.09 percent, countering November’s bleak figures, which were down by 9.85 percent. Sales figures by county for November and December were not available.

“The year ended strongly, which is indicative of an even healthier market ahead for 2015,” said Marie Flaherty, 2015 President of the Maine Association of Realtors, in a prepared statement. And while overall median prices statewide remained unchanged and were off a bit in York County, Flaherty was realistic.

 “More homes sold in 2014 than 2013, but after such a long period of instability, sellers were happy to have a sale at a realistic price, and in most cases weren’t pushing the envelope on price,” she said.

Flaherty went on to say that the last quarter of 2014 was one of the strongest in recent years. 

“Some buyers were willing to risk buying their replacement home before selling their existing home ”“ something that few have been comfortable doing in some time,” she said.

Gosselin, quoting the Maine page on Bankrate.com, said interest rates are in the neighborhood of 3.7-3.925 percent, and that refinancing of existing homes is at “an all-time high.”

“I’m anticipating a great 2015,” he said.

Thomas noted that sales in the past have tended to slow down around the holidays, but that didn’t happen this year.

He pointed out that the median county-wide selling price of $215,000 balances higher-priced coastal homes with less expensive ones.

In Sanford, for instance, Thomas pointed out there are a number of properties under $150,000. He said where he’s seen marketplace reluctance in the past, he’s now seeing action. 

“There seems to be, from my view, a lot of serious investors ”“ a lot of people encouraged enough with the economy who are looking into buying and fixing up and reselling or renting homes,” said Thomas. 

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].