The number of housing markets showing marked improvement nearly doubled in January from December with the addition of 40 new metros to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index.
Metrostudy researched all or part of all 84 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) around the country and found that starts will increase nationwide in 2012.
The majority of builders have faced some type of builder or buyer financing breakdown during the past year, according to a survey of Professional Builder readers.
There is still a gap between distressed home sales and existing home sales, despite the significant downward revisions to existing home sales for the years 2007 through 2011
U.S. home prices are expected to rise about 3 percent a year from 2013 to 2016, although they will continue to decline through late 2012 or early 2013.
