Pending Home Sales Surge in Cincinnati and US

Due in large part to the Federal Housing tax credit the pending home sales in April surged to a 110.9 index rating up from 104 in March.  How do we know that the tax credit was the cause of the increase? Well we can look at the historical data and see that the last surge of pending home sales occurred in October 2009 just as the prior tax credit was expiring according to RSI media.

Locally in the Midwest the index rose 4.1% to 104.2 and is 17.9% above April 2009 index. The Cincinnati market was certainly impacted by the credit. Scores of buyers  looked to take advantage of the program, and in turn helped to stimulate the regional economy as well. Each new home purchase helps to provide work for contractors, inspectors, title companies, and movers just to name a few impacted industries. While the tax credit was positioned to help the real estate market the halo effect is that the increased volume of home transactions really has stimulated commerce in a number of sectors.