Every year-end housing report revealed that the real estate market is recovering quite nicely. Here is a quick synopsis of each:

Existing Home Sales Report

• Total existing-home sales rose 5.9 percent in November over last month
• Sales are 14.5 percent higher than November 2011
• Sales are at the highest level since November 2009
• The national median existing-home price was $180,600 in November, up 10.1 percent from November 2011
• Total housing inventory at the end of November fell to a 4.8-month supply; it was 5.3 months in October, and is the lowest housing supply since September of 2005 when it was 4.6 months

Pending Sales Report

• Pending home sales increased in November for the third straight month and reached the highest level in two-and-a-half years
• The index is at the highest level since April 2010 when buyers were rushing to beat the deadline for the home buyer tax credit
• With the exception of several months affected by tax stimulus, the last time there was a higher reading was in February 2007
• On a year-over-year basis, pending home sales have risen for 19 consecutive months

New Home Sales Report

• Sales of new homes rose 4.4% in November to a two-and-a-half-year high
• This is the highest level since April 2010, when a temporary tax credit boosted demand.
• Sales are now 15.3% higher compared to one year ago

Case Shiller Home Price Index

• Home prices rose 4.3% in the 12 months ending in October
• In nineteen of the 20 cities covered, annual returns in October were higher than September