Total value of U.S. homes reaches pre-crash levels

The total value of U.S. homes in the fourth quarter of 2015 was $25.3 trillion, a level the market hasn't seen since 2006, before the housing crash and great recession.

Housing has been slow to recover because of tight lending standards, unemployment, crippling debt, and credit scores harmed by foreclosures. Rising home values could help increase inventory, which has been low in recent years. If home values rise high enough for homeowners to make money on a sale, more homes should go on the market.