August pending home sales +3.8% year-over-year

Group 1 - Pending home sales in August rose 4% from July and were 3.8% higher year-over-year, indicating strong market performance [1] - Mortgage rates in August were slightly lower than in July, contributing to the increase in signed contracts for home sales [2] - A survey of realtors indicated that 19% expect an increase in buyer traffic over the next three months, up from 16% the previous month [3] Group 2 - Inventory in August fell for the first time since the beginning of the year, suggesting a tightening market [4] - Sales increased in three out of four regions, with the Midwest showing the strongest performance due to lower home prices [4]