A list that tracks improving housing markets grew to 98 metro areas this month, adding some of the nation’s largest and hardest-hit areas.
The National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index uses growth in housing permits, employment and home values in calculating its list. Cities must have experienced increases in each category for six consecutive months.
Seven of the nation’s biggest metro areas joined in February: Miami; Boston; Detroit; Kansas City; Portland, Ore.; Memphis; and Salt Lake City. Thirty-six states now have at least one city on the list.
“While many of the markets on the February IMI are far from fully recovered, the index points out where employment, home prices and housing production are no longer retreating and have held above their lowest recession troughs for six months or more,” said David Crowe, chief economist for the association.
“This is a sign that a large cross section of the country is starting to turn the corner as local economic conditions stabilize.”
Here are the metro areas on the list:



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