From RealTrends.com: The housing market saw demand hit its highest level in 2½ years in October, according to an index released recently that tracks the number of buyers who signed contracts to purchase previously owned homes.The figure is the latest sign that the housing market has emerged from a deep funk last year. Pending home sales have only been higher in three other months over the past five years. Two of those months were in late 2009 and one was in early 2010, when tax credits fueled a rush of sales.