Sales of previously owned homes declined in both December and January. But that isn’t all that surprising. Cold weather in much of the country, combined with the end of the year and the holidays often causes home sales to slow down. This year, however, with current inventory levels and affordability conditions, some worried that the slow sales pace may mean something more significant and could even lead to a disappointing spring season. But new numbers from the National Association of Realtors provide some relief, showing February sales rebounding 3 percent from the month before, with single-family home sales up 4.2 percent. Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, says increases in the South and West made up for slumping sales in colder areas like the Midwest and Northeast. “A big jump in existing sales in the South and West last month helped the housing market recover from a two-month sales slump,” Yun says. “The very healthy U.S. economy and labor market are creating a sizable interest in buying a home in early 2018.” More here.