The number of pending home sales increased from February 2017 to this February, according to the latest report from the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, marking the ninth increase in the past 12 months.

In February 2018, there were 3,981 pending sales, an increase of 11.8 percent from 3,560 in February 2017. The median prices for homes saw an increase as well, rising 7 percent from $327,200 last year to $350,000 in February 2018.

“Despite inventory dipping below 10,000 homes the last few months, buyers were able to come out and make offers in February that pushed pending home sales up over last year,” said 2018 MAR President Rita Coffey.

The uptick in sales and prices means Realtors are more confident in the market, with MAR’s confidence index increasing 2.4 percent, from 75.2 in February 2017 to 76.32 in February 2018. “The competitive nature of low inventory and high demand is keeping Realtors confident in the market,” Coffey says.