Optimism seems to be returning slowly to the housing market. Last week, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), said more consumers are purchasing homes due to the historically low interest rates, stabilizing prices and tax credit refund incentives.

In fact, the number of homes under contract increased in March, according to the National Association of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales Index, which increased 3.2 percent from February to March.
Additionally, an April 16 Gallup Poll found that 71 percent of Americans said that now is a “good time” to buy a house, an 18 point increase from one year ago and the highest level in four years.

Much of this is due to the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit was enacted in February.