Contracts for pending sales of previously owned homes natwionwide unexpectedly rose in February, a survey from the National Association of Realtors showed, a rise the group said may be attributed to home buyers taking advantage of a soon-to-expire tax credit.

The Realtors said its Pending Home Sales Index, based on contracts signed in February, rose 8.2 percent to 97.6 from a downwardly revised 90.2 in January.

Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast pending home sales, which lead existing home sales by one to two months, would remain essentially unchanged in February.