The new year started on a positive note for the Chilliwack real estate market, bucking the trend in Metro Vancouver and the rest of the Fraser Valley.

There were 125 sales worth $36.5 million last month up from 113 sales worth $31.5 million for January 2012.

Outgoing Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board (CADREB) president Cynthia Admiraal said she was pleased that the conclusion of her term is ending on a positive note.

"Going into the CADREB presidency last February, I felt strongly that the Chilliwack and area real estate market would continue to withstand the challenges of a recovering economy, and it did," she said in a press release.

"The interest rates stayed low, housing prices reflected a stable market, and inventory remained good."

With no signs of mortgage rates rising any time soon, CADREB remains bullish on the local market.

Of the 125 sales last month, 63 were single family homes, and 52 were over the $300,000 mark.

To compare January 2013 to other years, there were 111 sales worth $30.5 million in 2011, 122 sales worth $35.3 million in 2010, 71 sales worth $21.2 million in 2009 and 128 sales worth $40.6 million in 2008.

phenderson@chilliwacktimes.com