Dive summary:

• The National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index for this month shows more than half of the metropolitan areas in the country have been improving for the past six months in three measures of market recovery.
• Overall, the monthly compilation netted a gain of 76 metros, with 84 new ones on the list and eight stumbling and falling off for a total of 201.
• The index looks at whether metro areas have had at least six consecutive months of improvements in housing permits, employment and house prices.

From the article:

"In general, we expect the overall housing recovery to continue expanding in 2013. However, that is absent a major policy change of the kind that some policymakers have been discussing with regard to the mortgage interest deduction." ...