The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI) for August lost eight markets from the listing in July, dropping to 247 metropolitan areas that show improvement, but three times the number included one year-ago August. The index measures job growth, home price appreciation and single-family housing permit growth, areas that must show improvement for six consecutive months before a metro area can be included on the list. NAHB Chairman Rick Judson says, “In all, 244 metros that were listed as improving in July retained that status in August, and this is an encouraging sign of the continuing housing recovery.” As MHProNews has learned, nearly 70 percent of all U. S. metro areas are represented on the list which includes 49 of the states and the District of Columbia.
