REAL ESTATE MARKET UPDATE

INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE   The Pending Home Sales Index recovered from its November slump, increasing 1.0% in December, putting it 10.9% over its level of a year ago. National Association of Realtors chief economist Lawrence Yun sees "...a broad improvement over year-ago levels. December activity was the fifth-highest monthly tally in two years." The slump was attributed to the rush before November to grab the tax credit set to expire at the end of that month.

We now know the tax credit was extended to buyers who can sign a contract by April 30 and close on the home by June 30. It's also been expanded, adding a $6500 credit for repeat buyers to the $8,000 credit for first timers. The NAR's Yun estimates 2.4 million households should take advantage of the credit this year.

The NAR also released their adjusted overall outlook for this year and next. They estimate existing home sales will grow from 5.19 million in 2009 to 5.66 million in 2010 and 5.7 million in 2011. They see new home sales growing from 375,000 in 2009 to 446,000 in 2010 and 637,000 in 2011. They believe prices have bottomed, projecting a 3.4% hike in the median price for existing homes to $179,800 this year and then a 4.3% rise to $187,500 in 2011. New homes should go up 3.7% this year to a $221,300 median price and then 4.7% in 2011 to $231,700.