The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Improving Markets Index (IMI), based on employment, housing permits, and house prices showed a slight improvement, adding a net gain of two, March to April. Thirteen markets were added and eleven fell from the ranking, while 88 markets remained, rising just above the century mark to 101 metro areas that continue to show gains. “While housing markets across the country continue to struggle under the weight of overly tight lending conditions and other challenges, the April IMI indicates that at least 101 individual metros are showing measurable and consistent signs that they are headed in the right direction,” said NAHB Chairman Barry Rutenberg. “A total of 35 states are now represented on the list, with 10 states having four or more entries.”
