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Nearly 100 Housing Markets Improve in March: NAHB

Fewer declines in housing permits, strengthening job numbers, and stabilizing home prices helped field improvements in nearly 100 housing markets in March, according to the ""National Association of Home Builders"":http://www.nahb.org/default.aspx (NAHB).

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The trade group released results to show that 31 metropolitan markets joined the First American Improving Markets Index, canceling departures from the list by 30 others.

The total number of improving markets settled at 99. New additions

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signaled improvements in 33 states, with Texas upfront as the lone state with 12 entries.

NAHB Chairman Barry Rutenberg said in a statement that the figures suggest that ""conditions have been consistently strengthening in a diverse array of individual markets nationwide.""

He said that the index fielded 10 states with four or more metros on the list, with 68 markets in retention of their status as improving markets.

NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe said in the said statement that the figures are ""consistent with NAHB's projections for a gradual but patchy recovery in which some month-to-month softening is likely, particularly in places where the measurable gains have been very small.

""The bottom line is that roughly one quarter of all U.S. metropolitan areas are showing signs that their housing markets have turned the corner, which is a very positive development,"" he added.

The trade group said that new and returning index entrants came to include Anchorage, Austin, Columbus, Jackson, Iowa City, Orlando, Rochester, and San Antonio.