According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), the number of U.S. markets showing consistent improvement increased by 22 to 125, Oct. to Nov. Based on employment, housing permits, and house prices for at least six consecutive months, markets qualifying for the list grew from 33 states to 38 (plus the District of Columbia), while 97 of the 103 markets maintained their spot on the list of improving markets. As MHProNews has learned, NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe says, “The solid increase in the number of improving housing markets this month illustrates the degree to which the housing recovery has gained momentum since we initiated the IMI last year. Compared to the 30 markets that made the list as of November 2011, we now have 125, which is about one-third of all the markets surveyed for this index.”
