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Area home sales took off in March, with sales of new and existing homes up more than 50 percent from February totals, the Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors reported Sunday.

Sales of new and existing homes in the Kansas City area totaled 2,156 in March, up 54.4 percent from 1,396 in February and 12.5 percent from March 2009, the association said in a release.

There were 174 new home sales in March, up 52.6 percent from 114 in March but down 7.9 percent from 189 in March 2009.

The association reported 1,982 existing home sales in the area in March, up 54.6 percent from February and 14.7 percent from March 2009.

The average sale price of a home in the Kansas City area in March was $158,815, which was 5.3 percent higher than the March 2009 average of $150,788.

The average new home price in March was $307,334, which was 6.4 percent higher than the year-ago average of $288,745. The average existing home price was $146,519, which was up 6.9 percent from the March 2009 average of $137,021.

The number of new homes on the market continued a steady decrease in March. The total of 1,789 new homes for sale last month was down 1.2 percent from February and down 39.7 percent from March 2009, when 2,968 new homes were on the market.

Resale inventory reached 14,798 homes in March, an increase of 7.6 percent from 13,749 homes in February and an increase of 6.2 percent from 13,937 homes a year earlier.

The area’s supply of new and existing homes — calculated by dividing inventory by the 12-month average number of sales — rose to a 7.7-month supply in March from a 7.3-month supply in February.

When supply exceeds six months, the market is considered to favor buyers. When it’s below five months, the market favors sellers.

March also brought a jump in Kansas City-area home foreclosures, with the number almost doubling from February.

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