'Dramatic expansion' of housing market surges across US

Published: Friday, Dec. 7 2012 10:50 a.m. MST

Construction workers finish up on a new home seen for sale Wednesday, May 23, 2012 in Springfield, Ill. Americans bought more new homes in April, the latest signal that the U.S. housing market is steadily improving. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

Seth Perlman, AP

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Summary

A national trend of improving housing markets took off this month as 76 metros with improving markets surged to 201, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index.

A national trend of improving housing markets took off this month as 76 metros surged to 201, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index.

Forty-four states were represented by at least one metro area on this list, which was an increase from the 38 that were included in November.

Area with improving housing markets

"The dramatic expansion of improving markets at the end of this year should help encourage consumers who may have been on the fence about a home purchase that a housing recovery is now firmly underway," said Kurt Pfotenhauer, vice chairman of First American Title Insurance Company.

This month, 84 metros were added to the list including Atlanta, Seattle, Ann Arbor and Green Bay. There were also eight that were dropped from the list.

To read about how Utah is doing in the housing market, visit here.

EMAIL: alovell@deseretnews.com

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