According to Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, the best affordability conditions since 1970 combined with a significant level of pent-up demand will lead to an improvement in home sales and the overall housing market in 2012. Yun believes existing-home sales will rise nearly five percent next year and new-home sales, which have been hurt by excess inventory of previously owned homes, will increase 23 percent. Increasing sales and falling inventory should positively effect home prices, which Yun believes will rise in 2012. Yun said home prices have shown a definitive stabilization pattern in most areas which should lead to moderate appreciation next year. More here.