Black Knight: Strong Upward Home Price Movement in Many Metros

Black Knight Financial Services, Jacksonville, Fla., said U.S. home price rose by 1.2 percent in March from February and by 5.3 percent year-over-year.

The company’s Home Price Index (http://www.bkfs.com/CorporateInformation/NewsRoom/Pages/HPINow.aspx) said national home prices are now up 29 percent since the market’s bottom in January 2012. At $257,000, the national level HPI is now just 3.8 percent off its June 2006 peak ($268,000).

Black Knight said all states and metro areas saw home prices go up in March. For the second consecutive month, Washington led all states with 2.1 percent appreciation, followed by Illinois, Oregon and Colorado, all at 1.9% percent. Among the nation’s 20 largest states, four hit new peaks: New York ($353,000); Tennessee ($182,000); Texas ($220,000); and Washington ($323,000).

The report said strong upward monthly price movement was observed in many metro areas, with each of the top 10 movers all seeing at least 2.0 percent growth or higher. Seattle, Boulder and Portland led the nation’s metro areas with 2.2 percent growth each; Wisconsin and Florida accounted for six of the nation’s top 10 best-performing metro areas.

Of the nation’s 40 largest metros, 12 hit new peaks: Austin, Texas ($293,000); Boston ($413,000); Dallas ($227,000); Denver ($346,000); Houston ($224,000); Kansas City ($178,000); Nashville ($222,000); Portland ($340,000); San Antonio ($197,000); San Francisco ($759,000); San Jose ($911,000); and Seattle ($392,000).