Consumers generally are showing greater optimism in the housing market this spring, according to Fannie Mae's 2014 National Housing Survey.

In the recent poll of 1,000 people, 38 percent say it's a good time to sell a home, up from 26 percent a year ago. The poll also shows that 69 percent of those surveyed say it's a good time to buy, and 52 percent say it's easier today to get financing for a home.

Americans also feel more confident about their personal finances: An all-time survey high of 40 percent say their personal financial situation has improved during the past year, it was reported by the National Association of Realtors.

"The housing recovery continues to proceed in fits and starts," says Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae's chief economist. "Rising mortgage rates and a lack of supply have dampened housing market momentum.

"However, we see several positive signs in this year's homebuying season, compared with last year. For example, consumers are less pessimistic about their personal finances and more optimistic about the current selling environment and their ability to get a mortgage.

"Still, those who are pessimistic about buying or selling a home today tend to point to economic conditions as the primary issue, and most consumers continue to say the economy is on the wrong track. Looking forward, we expect to see a pickup in economic growth later in the year, and this may boost the confidence of prospective buyers and sellers."

However, consumers' home-price expectations softened a bit in the latest survey. The average 12-month home-price-change expectation fell from last month, reaching 2.7 percent, the survey shows. Also, slightly fewer respondents — 48 percent — said they thought home prices would rise in the next 12 months.

Q: Are mortgage rates going up or down at this point?

A: Surprisingly, rates are trending downward. According to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged a rate of 4.27 percent (0.7 point), down from 4.34 percent last week.

A year ago, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage sat at 3.41 percent. At the same time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.33 percent (0.6 point), down from an average 3.38 percent.

"Thirty year fixed-mortgage rates managed to return to 2014 lows this week, but there are sufficient signs around to suggest that this won't be the case for long," HSH Market Trends reported.

"Interest rates have been nudged downward in recent weeks by mixed economic data, a gyrating stock market, political trouble and economic softness overseas and soothing words from the Federal Reserve about the prospects for changes in monetary policy.

"At various points, all have served as reasons for investors to move into the relative safety of Treasury bonds, pushing yields and mortgage rates to the bottom of a six-month-long range."

Q: Are home sales still growing?

A: Sales of existing homes dropped in March to their lowest level since July 2012, as rising prices and a tight supply of available homes discouraged many would-be buyers.

The National Association of Realtors reported sales edged down 0.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.59 million. It was the seventh drop in the past eight months.

Sales rose in the Northeast and Midwest, suggesting that cold winter weather did not slow sales. And the realtors' group says the scant decline shows that sales are stabilizing and may strengthen in the coming months, as the spring buying season picks up. Many realtors report seeing more potential buyers at open houses.

Fewer homes for sale, higher mortgage rates and rising prices have contributed to lower sales since last summer.

Q: What is "the final walk-through"?

A: This is one of the most important elements of the closing process. It's when a buyer walks through a home just before the closing is finalized.

It's part field trip, part home inspection and part detective work, according to a Realty Times report.

The moment when the seller has finally finished moving out, and they're finally ready to turn the house over to a new owner. The moment when the buyer walks through and makes sure everything is working and everything is just right.

To find out more about Jim Woodard and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.