Steady December home sales capped the best year for the U.S. real estate market in five years, according to an industry trade group report Tuesday. The National Association of Realtors said that December sales of previously-owned homes came in just slightly below November’s sales pace, but up 12.8% from a year ago. That brought full-year sales to 4.65 million, up 9% from 2011 and the best year for home sales since 2007, when there were 5 million homes sold just before the start of the recession. Sales are being helped […]

Housing prediction for 2013: Prices will rise By Diana Olick | CNBC.com – Tue, Dec 11, 2012 7:21 PM ES Home prices will continue to rise, anywhere from 5 to 7 percent in 2013 from 2012. These prices will be driven by continued competition among investors in the distressed market, as well as a return to the market of organic move-up buyers. A lack of supply in some local markets could push prices there even higher, but the concern is that prices would rise faster than incomes, which could leave some potential […]