2012 was the best year for the U.S. real estate market in five years, according to the National Association of Realtors.
In a new report, the group says sales of previously-owned homes dipped slightly in December, but were up nearly 13 percent from the year before.
The NAR estimates more than 4.5 million homes were sold last year, up 9 percent from 2011, and the best year for home sales since 2007.