The index also shows that the number of states represented on the list by at least one metro increased from 38 in November to 44, plus the District of Columbia, in December.
The index points to metropolitan areas that have shown improvement from their respective lows in housing permits, employment and house prices for at least six consecutive months. The list included 84 new metros this month, while eight metros were dropped.
The index measures three sets of monthly data — employment growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, housing price appreciation from Freddie Mac and single-family housing permit growth from the U.S. Census Bureau — each month to compile the list of top improving Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
According to the NAHB, a metropolitan area must see improvement in all three measures for at least six consecutive months following those measures’ respective troughs before being included on the improving markets list.
To view the IMI data for December, visit nahb.org./imi.
