• The NAHB found 84 metropolitan areas this month that met its criteria to be listed on its National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI).
• The June count was 81. The July list has 73 metros that stayed on and 11 new ones that have hit the six-months-of-improvement mark. Eight metros fell off from June.
• The index uses housing permits, employment and house price.

From the release:

The list of U.S. housing markets showing measurable and sustained improvement rose by four to include 84 metros in July, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released today. This number includes representatives from 32 states plus the District of Columbia. ...