Home resales in the United States rose to a 6.69 million annual rate, a 3.9% increase from January’s revised 6.44 million annual pace, the U.S. National Association of Realtors said today. January’s rate was originally estimated at 6.46 million.

Economists had expected February to come in around 6.33 million, according to a survey by Thomson Financial.

The median home price was $212,800 in February, compared with a revised $210,900 in January and a revised $215,700 in February 2006.

NAR chief economist David Lereah said some of the rise might have been due to mild weather. “But fundamentals have improved in the housing market,” he said, in a news release.

Inventories of homes were up 5.9% at the end of February to 3.75 million available for sale, which represented a 6.7-month supply at the current sales pace. There was a 6.6-month supply at the end of January.

Regionally, existing-home sales were mixed. Sales rose 3.9% in the Midwest, 14.2% in the Northeast, and 1.6% in the South. Demand in the West was flat.