Data through May 2013, released this week by S&P Dow Jones Indices for its S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, a leading measure of U.S. home prices, showed increases of 2.5% and 2.4% for the 10- and 20-City Composites in May versus April. Dallas and Denver reached record levels surpassing their pre-financial crisis peaks set in June 2007 and August 2006.
This is the first time any city has made a new all-time high. The 10- and 20-City Composites annual returns rose slightly from April to May as they posted the best year over-year gains since March 2006. All 20 cities increased from May 2012 to May 2013 and from April 2013 to May 2013.
“Home prices continue to strengthen,” says David M. Blitzer, Chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices. “Two cities set new highs, surpassing their pre-crisis levels and five cities – Atlanta, Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle – posted monthly gains of over three percent, also a first time event.”
These record-breaking statistics reflect the message that leading industry brokers have been sending to their agents and consumers as the housing turnaround has unfolded: that now is a good time to buy.
