Source: Rock Products staff
The number of improving housing markets continued to expand for a third consecutive month in November, rising from 23 to 30 on the latest National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index. The list dropped two metropolitan areas and added nine new ones—Fort Collins, Colo.; Hinesville, Ga.; Davenport, Iowa; Monroe, La.; Lima, Ohio; Williamsport, Pa.; Corpus Christi and Tyler, Texas; and, Cheyenne, Wyo.
The index identifies metropolitan areas that have shown improvement for at least six months in housing permits, employment and housing prices. The following were listed in November: Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska; Jonesboro and Pine Bluff, Ariz.; Fort Collins, Colo.; Hinesville, Ga.; Kankakee, Ill.; Davenport and Waterloo, Iowa; Alexandria, Houma, Monroe and New Orleans, La.; Fayetteville and Winston-Salem, N.C.; Bismarck, N.D.; Lima, Ohio; Pittsburgh and Williamsport, Pa.; Sumter, S.C.; Amarillo, Corpus Christi, McAllen, Midland, Odessa, Sherman, Tyler and Waco, Texas; and, Casper and Cheyenne, Wyo.
“Texas continues to dominate the list of improving housing markets in November, increasing its net number of entries to eight and continuing a trend in which energy-producing metros seem to be doing better than the average,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. “Meanwhile, the geographic diversity of metros also continued to expand this month, with the states of Colorado, Georgia and Ohio all represented for the first time. This is further evidence that all housing markets are uniquely dependent upon local conditions, and some are leading the way toward an eventual, broader recovery.”
“The November IMI remains heavily weighted by smaller cities, with Pittsburgh and New Orleans as the only major metros represented,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “This is indicative of the tough conditions that continue to prevail across much of the country, particularly in larger markets that have been hit hardest by job losses and foreclosures during the recession and that will take more time to heal. However, momentum is building in pockets of the country where energy and agriculture are the dominant industries and where consistent, measurable improvements in economic conditions are now becoming apparent.”
The two metropolitan areas that dropped off of the improving markets list in November were Iowa City, Iowa, and Wichita Falls, Kan—areas experiencing declines in their employment and permit data, respectively.