The real estate market for houses in Island County strengthened considerably in 2015 compared to the prior year, according to statistics released last week by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

Sales closed on 1,643 houses in 2015, compared to 1,407 in 2014. The average selling price on those homes was $332,673 in 2015, up from $317,882 the year before. The median price,  $285,000, was also up from 2014’s $264,950.

Another 2,166 sales were pending as 2015 ended, compared to 1,846 pending sales at year-end 2014. The average price of houses pending sale in 2015 was $343,424, versus $324,749 in 2014. The median prices were $290,000 and $265,000, respectively.

December 2015 showed 81 new listings, at an average price of $515,643 and a median price of $379,000, compared to 77 new listings, at an average price of $505,110 and a median price of $349,900, in December 2014.

These figures reflect sales of houses only, not condominiums.