There was welcome news on the housing market front this week as the Illinois Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS® reported increased home sales in April.

April home sales in Illinois were up 25.3 percent from a year ago, while existing-home sales nationally rose 0.6 percent compared to March and 9.7 percent compared to April 2012.

See headlines of some of the media coverage:

Chicago-area home sales, prices improve in April – Chicago Tribune

Illinois home sales best since 2007 in April – State Journal-Register

Local home sales jump 31 percent in April – Crain’s Chicago Business

US home sales tick up to highest in 3 ½ years – Chicago Sun-Times