PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Home sales have remained brisk in Maine in early 2021, and prices are continuing to climb.

The Maine Association of Realtors said the median sales price for a single-family existing home in Maine rose nearly 16 percent from January 2020 to January 2021. The volume of sales also increased more than 18 percent, the association said.

The surge in sales and prices comes after a year that was the best in state history for sales volume. The state is now facing historically low for-sale inventory, the association said.

Prices and home sales have been up in every county in the state this winter. The largest increase in sales price was in Hancock County, where it climbed more than 44 percent to $317,000, the association said.