US February 2017 pending home sales data from the National Association of Realtors
– was -2.8%
– Sales up 2.6% y/y vs +2.7% y/y in January
– Index at the highest since April 2016
Lawrence Yun,
NAR chief economist, says February’s convincing bump in pending sales
is proof that demand is rising with spring on the doorstep. "Buyers came
back in force last month as a modest, seasonal uptick in listings were
enough to fuel an increase in contract signings throughout the country,"
he said. " and steady hiring in most markets is spurring significant interest in buying, as well as the
expectation from some households that delaying their home search may
mean paying higher interest rates later this year."
Added Yun, "Last month being the warmest February in decades also
played a role in kick-starting prospective buyers’ house hunt."
