Realtors’ pending home sales index shows a healthy market

Updated 8/29/2012 10:31 AM – By the staff @ (AP) WASHINGTON (AP) —Americans signed more contracts to buy homes in July than at any time in the last two years, further evidence of a housing recovery.

The National Association of Realtors said Wednesday that its index of sales agreements for previously occupied homes jumped 2.4% in July to 101.7. That’s higher than June’s 99.3. It’s also the highest reading since April 2010, last month that buyers could qualify for a federal home-buying tax credit.

A reading of 100 is considered healthy. The index is 12.4% higher than July 2011. It bottomed at 75.88 in June 2010 after the tax credit expired.