MCLEAN, VA - Freddie Mac FMCC released its updated Multi-Indicator Market Index (MiMi) showing the U.S. housing market continuing to slowly stabilize with three additional metro areas entering their outer range of stable housing activity: Stockton, California; Madison, Wisconsin; and Miami, Florida.
The national MiMi value stands at 79.2, indicating a weak housing market overall but showing an improvement of +0.71% from April to May and a three-month improvement of +2.09%. On a year-over-year basis, the national MiMi value has improved +4.35%. Since its all-time low in October 2010, the national MiMi has rebounded 34 percent, but remains significantly off from its high of 121.7.
Twenty-six of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia have MiMi values in a stable range, with the District of Columbia (100.5), North Dakota (96.4), Montana (93), Hawaii (92.1), and California (87.7) ranking in the top five.
Thirty-eight of the 100 metro areas have MiMi values in a stable range, with Fresno (95.8), Honolulu (93.1), Austin (92.8), Los Angeles (90.3) and Salt Lake City (90.1) ranking in the top five.
The most improving states month-over-month were District of Columbia (+2.24%), Nevada (+1.88%), Washington (+1.59%), Arizona (+1.58%) and Rhode Island (+1.56%). On a year-over-year basis, the most improving states were Oregon (+12.58%), Florida (+11.60%), Nevada (11.21%), Colorado (+9.47%), and Michigan (+8.15%).
The most improving metro areas month-over-month were Cape Coral, FL (+2.12%), Las Vegas, NV (+2.00%), Orlando, FL (+1.87%), Seattle, WA (+1.87%) and Miami, FL (+1.77%). On a year-over-year basis, the most improving metro areas were Orlando, FL (+13.62%), Palm Bay, FL (+13.23%), Cape Coral, FL (+13.07%), Miami, FL (+12.90%), and Portland, OR (+12.73%).
In May, 43 of the 50 states and 95 of the 100 metros were showing an improving three month trend. The same time last year, 42 of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, and 95 of the top 100 metro areas were showing an improving three-month trend.
Freddie Mac Deputy Chief Economist Len Kiefer stated, "MiMi continues to deliver good news on the housing front as more markets continue improving. Likewise, it's becoming clearer every month that after several years of local trends largely reflecting national trends, we are getting back to more normal times where local housing markets develop based on their own unique economies. For example, housing markets in the West and Southwest continue to be the bright spot of the recovery and spring homebuying season with strong purchase activity fueled by an improving local economy and job picture. Yet, even within these regions, MiMi shows noticeable differences. Meanwhile, markets throughout Florida showed significant improvement this month not because of robust home buying activity, but because more borrowers became current on their mortgages, with just a few showing better purchase activity. Florida markets, much like those in Nevada or Arizona, while improving rapidly, still have significant work to do to get back to their benchmark stable ranges."