Home buyers in the Twin Cities outdid themselves last week. During the week ending August 23, there was 4.5 percent increase in pending home sales in the metro. Pending sales, an indication of future closings, have been down for much of the year because as investors exit the market and traditional buyers replace them. This was the first increase since July 5, but unlikely the beginning of a trend. Home sales this year are expected to fall short of 2013. Here's a link to the complete weekly report.