Some recent positive signs for home buyers and sellers:
- Home equity rose by $12,500 for the average homeowner over the last four quarters, according to CoreLogic.
- Existing-home sales rose in November for the third consecutive month, according to the National Association of Realtors.
- Sales of new single-family houses rose 5.2 percent in November, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- The National Association of Home Builders is forecasting a 10 percent increase in single-family production for 2017 and a 12 percent rise for 2018.
