US home sales rise 9.4 percent in September

WASHINGTON -- U.S. home resales rose far more than expected last month to the highest level in more than two years as buyers scrambled to complete their purchases before a tax credit for first-time owners expires.

Source:Associated Press
US home sales rise 9.4 percent in SeptemberBy ALAN ZIBEL , 10.23.09, 10:05 AM EDT

Pace of U.S. existing home sales fastest in 2 years

By Lucia Mutikani

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sales of previously owned U.S. homes jumped 7.2 percent in July to mark the fastest pace in nearly two years, a survey showed on Friday, in a strong sign that housing is pulling out of a three-year slump.

Sales in July rose for the fourth straight month to hit an annual rate of 5.24 million units, the highest since August 2007, the National Association of Realtors said. The total beat market expectations of a 5 million unit pace and June's 4.89 million pace.

Read more at http://www.reuters.com/article/gc03/idUSTRE57K2NV20090821.