In Market Hit Early, Signs of a Recovery

In Sacramento, one of the first US cities to see the housing market crumble, there are glimmers of recovery, the New York Times reports. Sales have jumped 45% from last year, and investors and first-time buyers are on the prowl. “It’s fragile, and it could easily be fleeting,” said an analyst. “But history suggests this is how things might look six months before prices bottom out.”

National home sales are down 7% from last year, and the supply of unsold homes remains high. But sales may now be accelerating with the help of low interest rates and a first-time buyers’ tax credit. Still, increased sales are no quick fix for low prices—and in Sacramento, foreclosures will keep coming, prompting one real-estate CEO to call recovery prospects “fool’s gold.” (More housing market stories.)