Today’s home buyers should consider making offer sooner rather than later. Looking at the data, it appears the best time to have found a “deal” on a home may have been in February.

As expected, the Pending Home Sales shot higher in February, boosted by the federal home buyer tax credit’s April 30 deadline.

Fewer homes went under contract in January as the housing market continues to limp through the winter months. According to the National Association of Realtors®, the Pending Home Sales Index fell to its lowest level in 3 quarters this January. By contrast, in October 2009, the index had touched a 3-year high.