Residential real estate is picking up. Not since 2009 have home sales around the country been doing so well. In fact, they just reached their highest level since November 2009.

Despite April’s annual sales reaching a rate of 5.44 million, overall sales are still relatively low. Before the housing bubble burst in 2005, the sales rate averaged more than 6 million.

Homes are selling faster than they did just a year ago. Last April, median time on the market for all homes was 83 days, and this past April was just 46 days.

The national median existing-home price is also up versus last year. In April, the price was up 11 percent to $192,800 versus 2012.

Experts forecast continued growth for the housing market this year, including sales of existing homes as well as home prices.