The latest figures from the Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service find the Westchester-Putnam real estate market continues its upward trend.

The MLS says the market experienced its third consecutive, post-recession, year-to-year increase in volume in the second quarter of 2010. Officials say the sales level during that period was a 20% increase over the first quarter rate. They cite a number of reasons for the increase. They include the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit as one important factor as well as extraordinarily low mortgage interest rates. The combination of both, officials say, propelled homebuyers to purchase a home.

Real estate officials are taking the latest news in stride though. Westchester's unemployment rate remains high. Their main concern is not that it takes potential buyers out of the market, but rather that it serves to undermine the market as persistant unemployment can lead to foreclosure activity and a glut of lower-priced inventory.

Gil Mercurio, the CEO of the Westchester Putnam Association of Realtors says, "It's a new era now. There are outside forces that can halt a real estate recovery, or even a general economic recovery on a dime. " He adds, "One of those things is crazy behavior in the stock market that makes people nervous, unemployment is also a problem, although it is starting to trend downward."

So far, Westchester and Putnam Counties have managed to avoid the negative consequences of excessive foreclosures. According to the Westchester County Clerk's office, foreclosure filings since the start of 2010 have averaged 220 a month. That's about 27% less than the second half of last year, when the average foreclosure filings were averaging more than 300 a month.

The price of a single-family home in Westchester was up in the second quarter of 2010 up 8% from $565,000 in 2009 to $607,500.