Home Sales, Values Probably Increased: U.S. Economy Preview

Purchases of new houses probably rose to the highest level in more than two years and the value of existing properties increased, confirming the real-estate market is now a bright spot in the U.S. expansion, economists said before reports this week.

New-home sales climbed to a 380,000 annual rate in November, the most since April 2010, according to the median forecast of 60 economists surveyed by Bloomberg before Dec. 27 figures from the Commerce Department. House prices in 20 cities rose 4 percent in the 12 months ended October, the best year-over-year performance since June 2010, other figures may show.