Oct 30 (Reuters) – Contracts to buy U.S. previously owned homes jumped by the most in more than four years in September on a mix of more attractive interest rates and improving inventory of properties for sale.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) said on Wednesday its Pending Home Sales Index, based on signed contracts, rose 7.4% last month to 75.8 – the highest since March – from 70.6 in August. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast contracts, which become sales after a month or two, would rise 1.0% after increasing 0.6% in August from a record low in July.