In today’s Daily Herald, real estate columnist Ken Harney writes that a number of factors – increased pre-approval mortgage activity, higher foot traffic at listings and more potential buyers viewing online websites – are signals that the real estate market could be ramping up for an earlier spring selling season this year. Read more in Harney’s column, “Real estate sales appear to be in early bloom.

In other news:

US futures jump after jobs, housing dataBelleville News-Democrat

Surge in home construction likely to continue Daily Herald

Five Facts on the Housing Construction Rebound Wall Street Journal