March Home Sales Jump 27 Percent, but Tax Credit to End

April 23, 2010— -- A surge in sales of new homes is exciting realtors and builders, but some analysts question whether it's a sign of lasting recovery.

New home sales jumped 27 percent in March, the biggest monthly increase in 47 years.

In some regions of the country, the growth was even more pronounced, with a 44 percent increase in sales in the South and a 36 percent increase in the Northeast.

"We are off life support," said home builder Rick Judson, whose company is based in Charlotte, N.C. "Generally speaking, the consumer is saying it's a good time to buy."

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Just a month ago, home sales were at record lows, and this spike in sales beat all analysts' expectations. Home prices actually have stayed relatively stable, with a median price of $214,000, up just 4 percent from a year ago.

Experts say that buyers were spurred on by a number of factors, including better springtime weather and historically low interest rates, but the biggest reason of all may have been the federal home buyer tax credit.

Many homeowners are rushing to take advantage of the credit before it expires on April 30, just a week away. The credit is worth as much as $8,000 for first-time home buyers and $6,500 for current homeowners who are moving to a new house.

"These robust numbers say the credit is working," said David Crowe, the chief economist at the National Association of Home Builders.

Some analysts believe that the home sales increase is also tied to overall economic recovery.

"They're coming from places where people are getting jobs," said economist Patrick Newport of IHS global insight. "Places like Texas and Louisiana, states that have not been hit as hard by the economy and states where the job market is improving more than in the rest of the country."