The Illinois spring housing market got off to a strong start in March with sharp gains in year-over-year home sales and median prices, according to the Illinois Association of REALTORS.  Statewide home sales, including single-family homes and condominiums, in March 2015 totaled 11,416 homes sold, up 13.1 percent from March 2014.  According to the data, 61 counties out of 102 Illinois counties reporting, recorded sales gains for March 2015 over previous-year numbers.  That was not the case in Washington County, as there were 5 homes sold last month, while there were 8 sold last March.  There were 3 homes sold in February, so last month saw an increase.  Last year there were 19 homes sold through March, but there have only been 12 sold in 2015 so far.  Lower housing inventory remains a factor in the market with 61,418 homes available for sale, a 4.4 percent decline compared to March 2014.  The statewide median price in March 2015 rose to $165,000, an 11.5 percent gain over March 2014’s statewide median price.  The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more and half sold for less.  61 counties recorded median price gains in March 2015 over previous-year numbers.  This was also not the case in Washington County, as the median price in March was $52,500, but it was $81,200 a year ago.  In February it was $60,000 and it is at $52,250 to date in 2015.  The time it took to sell a home in March was nearly unchanged at 87 days compared to 86 days a year ago.  In Washington County, it took 140 days on average for the 5 homes that sold in March, down from the 192 days on average for the homes that sold in February.  Last March it took 143 on average to sell those homes.  For the year to date it is taking 139 days for the homes that have already sold.