BLOOMINGTON — Twin City home sales just had their best year since 2007.

A total of 2,459 units were sold in 2012, a more than 20 percent jump from the 2,048 homes sold in Bloomington-Normal during 2011, according to data released Wednesday by the Bloomington-Normal Association of Realtors.

BNAR President Thom Jones credits last year’s improvement in sales to low interest rates and a good inventory of homes.

“Interest rates are still at a historic low; there’s no better time to get into the market,” said Jones, adding that the group expects the improvement in sales to continue through 2013.

Of the homes sold during 2012, 2,253 were existing homes, a more than 21 percent increase from the 1,856 sold in 2011. The data show that 206 new homes were sold last year, up more than 7 percent from the 192 new homes sold in 2011. The average cost of a home last year was $171,991, up just slightly from the average price of $169,714 for homes sold during 2011. The average cost of existing homes last year was $161,290, while the average cost of new homes was $289,026.

Last year’s sales were the best since 2007 when 2,585 units were sold.

And while year-over-year sales were up, monthly sales last month dropped nearly 6 percent compared to December 2011. A total of 198 homes were sold during December, down from the 210 homes sold in December 2011. Last month’s total includes the sale of 178 existing homes and 20 new homes.

One trend that emerged last year was a higher number of homes sold and purchased at a lower price range than in previous years, said Jones. As of Wednesday, Bloomington-Normal had 937 residential homes listed for sale. Of those, 34 percent were under $100,000, while 57 percent were under $150,000, said Jones.

“We are putting them on and taking them off (the market),” said Jones. “What that tells us is that this segment of the market is still reacting. Buyers (searching for homes) above $150,000 need more choices.”