Although inventory is still being stretched thin in many areas, low mortgage rates coupled with higher wages have built a relatively sturdy housing marketplace.

The housing market is being predictable, and that's a good thing. At the beginning of the year, it was anticipated that the prevailing trends of the past year would continue into and through 2016, and that has largely been the case

Strong buyer activity to start the year pushed closed home sales to highest level in a February since 2004. February median home prices were up from same time last year owing to buyer demand. The decreasing inventory trend continued in February.

Strong buyer activity in the last few months of the year pushed closed home sales to highest level in a January since 2004. January median home prices essentially flat from same time last year despite buyer demand.

Here's the latest update of Real Estate Rewind, an online quarterly report produced by the Greater Boston Real Estate Board (GBAR) which summarizes residential real estate market activity in the GBAR jurisdictional area.

2015 ends with most closed sales in a December since 2004. Strong buyer activity, low inventory and low interest rates pushed prices up again on homes in. December. 2015 was a year of higher sales, very low inventory and prices back to pre-recession levels.

November closed home sales up on strong buyer activity in the fall. Ongoing low inventory combined with high buyer demand pushed home prices up in November. Eight straight months of new listings added to the market are giving buyers more options.

October closed home sales up on strong buyer activity over the late summer/early fall. Low supply in October and ongoing buyer demand pushed home prices higher. Seven straight months of new listings added to the market are giving buyers more options.

September closed home sales up on strong buyer activity over the summer. Home prices continued to be pushed higher by strong demand and low supply in September. Six straight months of new listings added to the market are giving buyers more options.

Strong buyer activity in late spring/early summer pushed closed sales up in August. Supply and demand are pushing home prices up. New listings added to the market are helping increase closed sales.