• The National Association of Home Builders said its monthly measure of how well markets are doing – the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index –stands at 99 this month, up from 80 in September.
• The index counts how many metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S. have had at least six consecutive months of improvements fro each area's lows in building permits, employment and home prices.
• The organization said 12 metros fell off the list because their recoveries stumbled, but 31 areas made it onto the list this month.

From the release:

The number of improving housing markets across the country rose to 99 in September, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released today. ...