Pending home sales remained notably above the pattern in the first half of last year, but were down slightly from the previous month , according to the National Association of Realtors.
The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, eased 0.5% to 96.5 in February from 97 in January but is 9.2% above February 2011, when it was 88.4.
The data reflects contracts but not closings.
