The number of housing markets showing measurable improvement nearly doubled in January with the addition of 40 new metro areas to the National Association of Home Builders Improving Markets Index (IMI), released Monday. The previous month, the IMI added 20 markets.
The number of housing markets showing measurable improvement nearly doubled in January with the addition of 40 new metro areas to the National Association of Home Builders Improving Markets Index (IMI), released Monday. The previous month, the IMI added 20 markets.
Additions to the list in January include:
- Florence, Ala.
- Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Fayetteville, Ark.
- Denver, Colo.
- Greeley, Colo.
- Bridgeport, Conn.
- New Haven, Conn.
- Cape Coral, Fla.
- Jacksonville, Fla.
- Punta Gorda, Fla.
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Ames, Iowa
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Dubuque, Iowa
- Elkhart, Ind.
- Indianapolis, Ind.
- Lafayette, Ind.
- Lake Charles, La.
- Worcester, Mass.
- Grand Rapids, Mich.
- Lansing, Mich.
- Monroe, Mich.
- Minneapolis, Minn.
- Columbia, Mo.
- Joplin, Mo.
- Fargo, N.D.
- Manchester, N.H.
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Oklahoma City, Okla.
- Tulsa, Okla.
- Corvallis, Ore.
- Erie, Pa.
- Philadelphia, Pa.
- Chattanooga, Tenn.
- Clarksville, Tenn.
- Nashville, Tenn.
- College Station, Texas
- Dallas, Texas
- Victoria, Texas
- Madison, Wis.
The index identifies metropolitan areas that have shown improvement from their respective troughs in housing permits, employment and house prices for at least six consecutive months.
"The fact that the list of improving housing markets nearly doubled this month shows that a significant, positive trend is developing, and is even more relevant when you consider the expanding geographic distribution of the list-which now includes 31 states and the District of Columbia," said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen.