Closed sales of houses in the Lehigh Valley have decreased for the fourth straight month.

Closed sales in April decreased 11.3 percent to 1,524, compared to 1,719 in April 2013.

That's less of a percentage drop than in March when closed sales of houses in the Lehigh Valley decreased 15.2 percent, 407 houses, down from 480 closed sales of houses in March 2013.

Closed sales in February were down 10 percent, compared to February 2013.

Closed sales in January were down 3.1 percent, compared to January 2013.

The four-month decline in closed sales contrasts with month-to-month closed sales percentage increases and last year's overall yearly increases.

Closed sales for the year in 2013 were 15.5 percent higher than 2012 and 32 percent higher than in 2011.

The statistics are provided by the Lehigh Valley Association of Realtors (LVAR) and were collected from its Multiple Listing Service (MLS) that compiles data from more than 2,000 Realtor members.

Closed sales data includes that for single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums.

In a positive note for future closed sales, during April, pending home sales increased 9.7 percent to 733, compared to 668 during the same month last year. In April 2012, pending sales were recorded at 551.

"The increase in pending sales will directly impact closed sales in upcoming months," said Kim Lucas Mantz, President of LVAR.

"The 33 percent increase in pending sales from two years ago is a positive indicator for the current housing market," said Ryan Conrad, CEO of LVAR. Pending home sales reflect homes that are under contract but have not yet closed.

New listings in April were recorded at 1,343, up 3.1 percent compared to April 2013. Comparisons to 2012 show a 23.7 percent increase, when new listings were recorded at 1,086.

"We are optimistic that the trend in new listings will continue and increase the amount of housing inventory from which buyers may choose," Conrad said.

Year-to-date, the median price remained the same at $158,000. The median sales price reflects the median point at which half of the sales sold for more and half sold for less, not accounting for seller concessions, in a given month.

The average sales price was $177,730, a 1.4 decrease from last year at the same time.

The months' supply of inventory in April decreased 9.3 percent to a 6.8 months' supply. Inventory of four to seven months is typically regarded as constituting a balanced real estate market.

Average sales and median prices fluctuate monthly depending on the number of sales at the high or low end of the price range. The year-to-date numbers generally remain more constant.

The Lehigh Valley Association of Realtors is a not-for-profit trade association providing professional development and training resources, competitive market information, legislative advocacy, a peer review and mediation process for members, and a dispute resolution service for consumers.

LVAR owns and operates the Lehigh Valley Multiple Listing Service, the Lehigh Valley Real Estate Academy and is publisher of Lehigh Valley Real Estate Weekly.