The second edition of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI) shows 23 individual housing markets now qualifying as “improving” under the new index’s parameters. This is nearly double the 12 housing markets listed last month.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has released its first NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), a new economic index revealing metropolitan areas that have shown improvement for at least six months in three key economic areas.
Living Cities, a philanthropic collaborative of 22 of the world’s largest foundations and financial institutions, announced the release of a study analyzing whole building utility usage databases for the nation’s multifamily housing stock.
Housing starts declined 4.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 529,000 units in the final month of 2010, according to figures released by the U.S. Department of Commerce. However, the year-end data indicate that production of new homes improved 6.1 percent in 2010 over 2009. On another positive note, permit issuance for construction of new homes and apartments rose 16.7 percent in December.