The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI) identifies metro areas that have shown improvement in housing permits, employment, and house prices for six consecutive months. MHProNews.com has learned the Housing markets that meet this criteria expanded by 29 for Feb. to 98, and include some hard hit cities—Miami, Memphis, Boston, Detroit, Kansas City, MO, Portland, OR, and Salt Lake City. “The fact that there are nearly 100 markets now on the improving list shows that the momentum is building for a housing recovery and that more buyers and sellers are starting to feel confident enough to return to the market,” said Kurt Pfotenhauer, vice chairman of First American Title Insurance Company. Meanwhile, seven metro markets fell from the IMI list. San Jose, Ca, Kankakee, IL, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, Jackson, MS, Worcester, MA, and Sherman, TX all experienced falling home prices.
