The National Association of Realtors is predicting existing-home sales will jump 7 to 10 percent in 2012 to the highest level in five years, based on an "uneven but higher sales pattern" so far this year.

Pending home sales fell a seasonally adjusted 0.5 percent from January to February, which was up 9.2 percent from the same time a year ago, NAR said today in releasing its latest Pending home Sales Index.

Last week, NAR reported a similar trend for existing-home sales, which were down 0.9 percent from January to February, but up 8.8 percent from a year ago.The pending sales data released today provides a glimpse into more recent trends, because it tracks homes that were under contract in February -- deals that will in most cases be finalized within one or two months.

In the Northeast, NAR's index slipped a seasonally adjusted 0.6 percent from January but was up 18.4 percent from a year ago.

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