Trulia’s Housing Barometer uses data from the Census Bureau, the National Association of Realtors, and LPS First Look to measure how quickly the housing market is returning to normal. The barometer determines this by comparing current construction, sales, and delinquency data to where it was at its worst and at pre-bubble levels. According to the most recent release, the housing market was 42 percent back to normal in August, up from 34 percent in July and 25 percent in August 2011. The improvement was due, primarily, to a two-year high in existing-home sales and construction starts near their second-highest level in four years. Also, delinquency and foreclosure rates hit a post-recession low, which put them 38 percent closer to normal. In August, the housing barometer reached its highest level since the recovery began. More here.
