On Tuesday, the National Association  of Realtors announced that the number of people preparing to buy a  home rose slightly in December of 2009. Many are considering this a  positive sign for the upcoming “spring home buying season.” 
 
The National Association of Realtors  said Tuesday its seasonally adjusted index of sales agreements rose  1 percent from November to December to a reading of 96.6. That was a  bit lower than the 97.1 level analysts expected.
The index has risen for nine out of the  past 10 months as buyers work to take advantage of an $8,000 first-time  homebuyer tax credit.