BY NICK TIMIRAOS

U.S. existing-home sales last year rose to their highest annual level in five years and registered their largest annual jump since 2004, the latest sign that more housing markets hit bottom last year amid ultralow interest rates and strong investor demand.

The National Association of Realtors reported Tuesday that an estimated 4.65 million previously owned homes were sold in 2012, up 9.2% from 2011. Total home sales were higher than in any year since 2007, when 5.04 million homes were sold; at the time, that was the lowest annual tally since 1998.

Sales in December edged down by around 1% …