A company that tracks real estate reported yesterday that single-family home sales in Rhode Island increased by nearly 37 percent in February. It also reported that Barrington's home sales jumped by more than 50 percent. 

The Warren Group issued a press release stating that 569 single-family homes in Rhode Island were sold in Feb. 2016, compared to 416 in Feb. 2015. 

“After a lackluster year in 2014, the Rhode Island housing market has gained significant ground last year and the beginning of this year,” said Timothy Warren Jr., CEO of The Warren Group. “Low interest rates, an improving economy and pent-up demand are all contributing factors to this recovery. Prices remain below the peak of 2007, and buyers are snapping up deals as they become available.”

The state trend carried over to Barrington. In Feb. 2015 there were seven single-family home sales in town, while in Feb. 2016 that figure jumped to 11 sales — a 57 percent increase.

The total number of sales for the first two months also increased, from 20 in February and January of 2015 to 26 in 2016.

But while the number of sales increased, the median sales price dropped significantly. In Feb. 2015, the median sales price was nearly $440,000. That shifted to $285,000 this February. 

The median sales price for single-family homes sold across Bristol County also dropped, from $269,968 in 2015 to $250,000 this year.