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The Massachusetts housing market had its best January in four years last month — and experts say that could mean the long-running housing bust is finally winding down.

"I think (2011) is the turnaround year," said Tim Warren of market tracker the Warren Group, which yesterday reported that more Bay State houses sold last month than in any other January since 2007. "By the end of this year, we’ll be saying that the bust is over."

Warren found that 2,190 houses changed hands statewide last month, up 5 percent from last January. That’s also the highest January sales level since 2007, when homeowners sold nearly 3,000 houses in the year’s first month.

Warren attributed the gains to a combination of low list prices, attractive mortgage rates and improved consumer sentiment.

"People are generally feeling a little more confident about the economy, so those who have jobs are willing to take a few more risks (and buy homes)," he said.

Laurie Cadigan, president of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, called January’s sales level "a great start to (2011), despite this winter’s miserable weather."

Median condo-sale prices fell to $233,750 last month, down 4.6 percent from January 2010. Similarly, median house-sale prices eased 6.9 percent from year-ago levels to $270,000.

While Warren expects prices to begin rebounding later this year, he doesn’t see any quick return to the state’s housing boom, which saw median house prices peak at $364,000 in 2005.

"To get back to where (we) were in 2005 — that could take five years," he said.