The double-digit home price increases seen a couple of years ago have subsided, but that doesn’t mean prices aren’t still increasing. In fact, according to the latest S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices – considered among the leading measures of U.S. home values – prices remain strong. Craig J. Lazzara, managing director at S&P, says they’re even hitting all-time highs. “One measure of the strength of the housing market is the relationship of current prices to their historical level,” Lazzara said. “On that dimension, it’s worth noting that the National Composite, the 10-City Composite, and seven individual cities, stand at their all-time highs.” S&P’s index, which covers data through August, shows prices up 2.6 percent year-over-year, with 19 of the 20 included cities showing a positive trend in annual acceleration compared to the previous month. Put simply, home price increases have slowed from their peak but have continued in most regions of the country. (source)
