2012 was a positive year for Birmingham metro area residential real estate transactions. The total number of sales was a 10 percent increase over 2011, and it brought forwards the best sales numbers for the area since 2008, according to the Birmingham Association of Realtors.

The Birmingham movers have found that the average selling price is up in the region at a rate of 6 percent over 2011. However, last year’s 10,770 homes are still no much for the sales of 2006–the peak for the area–when sales volume was 18,768 home sales. Realtors and other industry professionals in the Birmingham area are not predicting a large scale growth in the area for 2013, but rather steady and slow growth.

The average home price was $181,797, which is the highest it has been since 2008–however the 2006 sales average was $198,340. Throughout the state of Alabama, home sales grew 6 percent from 2011 data. Predicted nationwide growth is ranked at about 8 percent for 2013.