WASHINGTON — The pace of Americans signing contracts to buy homes increased for a third straight month in December, raising an index of pending home sales by 0.5%. The National Association of Realtors said Wednesday that its index of pending sales reached 110.1, up from a revised 109.6 in November. The index is now at its highest level since registering 111.3 in March. More Americans are looking for homes as the economy has improved, though a shrinking supply of properties on the market has...

With fewer homes for sale today, would-be buyers are having to get creative about making their bid stand out. USA TODAY WASHINGTON — Americans stepped up their purchases of new homes at the fastest pace in more than 25 years in November, with sales skyrocketing 17.5 percent amid robust demand and a continued shortage of existing homes on the market. New home sales last month jumped to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 733,000 units compared to 624,000 in October, the Commerce Department...