The housing market continues to show signs of a turnaround with 99 real estate markets now making up this month’s Improving Markets Index. Texas has the most cities on the list.

Just before launching into the spring selling season, about a quarter of all metro areas are showing improvements to their housing markets, according to the index.

The monthly index, which is conducted by the National Association of Home Builders and First American, reveals what metro areas have shown an uptick in housing permits, employment, and housing prices for at least six consecutive months.

With nearly 100 metros showing consistent improvement in local economic and housing conditions, more consumers are feeling confident enough to take advantage of the buyer's market this spring, says Kurt Pfotenhauer, vice chairman of First American Title Insurance Company.

31 Metro Areas Added to March List

The 31 metro areas added to this month’s list are:

• Anchorage, Alaska
• Little Rock, Ark.
• Bakersfield, Calif.
• Merced, Calif.
• Washington, D.C.
• Crestview, Fla.
• Orlando, Fla.
• Panama City, Fla.
• Iowa City, Iowa
• Evansville, Ind.
• Louisville, Ky.
• Flint, Mich.
• Holland, Mich.
• Saginaw, Mich.
• Springfield, Mo.
• Jackson, Miss.
• Burlington, N.C.
• Charlotte, N.C.
• Goldsboro, N.C.
• Rocky Mount, N.C.
• Glen Falls, N.Y.
• Rochester, N.Y.
• Columbus, Ohio
• Dayton, Ohio
• Altoona, Pa.
• Charleston, S.C.
• Spartanburg, S.C.
• Sioux Falls, S.D.
• Austin, Texas
• San Antonio, Texas

Drop-offs Keep Index Mostly Flat in March

While the index added 31 cities to its list, 30 cities dropped off this month — such as Honolulu, Boston, Memphis, Oklahoma City, and Madison, Wis. — keeping the index mostly flat this month. NAHB says the March index reflects its projection of a “gradual but patchy recovery” in the housing market.

To view a complete list of all 99 metro areas on the index, visit www.nahb.org/imi.

Source: Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Daily News