Home Prices in 20 U.S. Cities Increase by Most Since 2006

The article, Home Prices in 20 U.S. Cities Increase by Most Since 2006, from www.bloomberg.com, reports that home prices in 20 U.S. cities rose in the 12 months to December by the most in more than six years, a sign the housing-market recovery is strengthening. The S&P/Case-Shiller index of property values increased 6.8 percent from December 2011, the biggest year-to-year gain since July 2006. “The key here is it’s not as if we’re getting all the juice from one area, it’s broadly based across the country,” said Brian Jones, a senior U.S. economist at Societe Generale in New York, who correctly projected the year-over-year increase. “Rates are low, prices are attractive, so affordability is high, and the labor market is gradually healing as well. If you were in the market to buy a home, right now it’s a good time." Home prices adjusted for seasonal variations in the 20-city index climbed 0.9 percent in December from the prior month, compared with a 0.7 gain in November. The month-over-month gain was led by Las Vegas and Los Angeles. All 20 cities showed increases. Phoenix led the group of 19 cities that showed year-over- year increases, with a 23 percent jump in the 12 months to December. San Francisco was second with a 14.4 percent gain.

Here is the link to the entire article: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-26/home-prices-in-20-u-s-cities-increase-by-most-since-2006.html