Black Knight: December Home Prices Flat

Home prices rose by just 0.1 percent in December, reported Black Knight Financial Services, Jacksonville, Fla.

Black Knight said home prices rose at a 5.5 percent annual pace. As of the end of 2015, national home prices were 27 percent above from the market bottom in January 2012. At $253,000, the national Home Price Index is 5.3 percent off its June 2006 peak of $268,000.

The report said Florida and New York led gains among states, with 0.8% month-over-month appreciation. Florida accounted for all top 10 best performing metro areas in December, with Sarasota leading at 1.4 percent.

On the flip side, Connecticut topped the list of 10 most negative price movements among states, falling 0.7% from November. New Jersey and Michigan accounted for eight of the nation’s 10 worst performing metro areas, with Trenton and Atlantic City leading at -1.1 and -1.0%, respectively. Home prices in New Haven and Hartford fell by -0.9 and -0.8%, respectively.

Among the 20 largest states, Washington saw the greatest appreciation in 2015, with home prices there rising 9.3 percent over the course of the year. Among the 40 largest metros, San Francisco led with 12.4 percent home price appreciation, followed by Portland, Ore. and San Jose, Calif. (11.6 percent).

Among the nation’s 20 largest states, two hit new peaks in April: New York ($353,000) and Texas ($216,000). Of the nation’s 40 largest metros, eight hit new peaks: Austin, Texas ($288,000); Dallas ($222,000), Denver ($331,000), Houston ($221,000), Nashville, Tenn. ($222,000), Portland ($325,000), San Antonio ($196,000) and San Francisco ($727,000).