Orange County homebuying rose and prices increased as Southern California’s median hit an all-time high in December.

Orange County home sales totaled 3,109 in December — up 37% in a year, CoreLogic/DQ News reported. Still, Orange County’s latest sales count is still 12% off the December average of 3,533 since 1988.

The countywide median selling price was $732,750 — up 3.2% over 12 months. The latest median is 1% off the county’s record high of $740,000 set in October 2018.

More buying and higher prices were seen throughout Southern California. In six counties, 19,337 homes sold — up 22.1% in a year. The region’s median selling price was $550,000 — up 7.2% over 12 months.