Real Estate Institute of South Australia Port Lincoln regional chair Steve Kemp said prices had been flat in the first half of last year, due to the economic crisis.

However the second half of 2009 saw an increase in sales, particularly by first home buyers.

"We had an extremely busy Christmas/New Year period," Mr Kemp said.

"Investors are also coming back into the market, which is great to see."

Figures indicate the median price for houses in Port Lincoln from October to December 2009 was $267,000.

The median for the July to September quarter was $285,000, the April to June quarter was $267,083 and January to March was $262,000.

Local prices are in line with the overall State increase in the property market of 2.04 per cent in median house prices in 2009.

The median house price for regional South Australia rose to $250,000 in the December 2009 quarter after remaining stable for much of the year.