Housing

FHFA Home Price Index Rises 0.6% in July

471485037
Thinkstock
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) reported Tuesday morning that U.S. home prices rose 0.6% month over month in July. Compared with July 2014, the house price index has gained 5.8%. The 0.2% index increase reported for June was unchanged.

The FHFA monthly index is calculated using purchase prices of houses with mortgages that have been sold to or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The index remains 1.1% below its March 2007 peak and is roughly equivalent to its level in November 2006.

The consensus estimate for July called for an increase in a range of 0.4%.

Over the past 12 months, gains have been greatest in the Mountain states, up 9.4%, and the least in the New England states, which are up 2.1%. Year over year, the index rose in all nine Census Bureau divisions.

Home prices posted month-over-month gains in seven Census Bureau divisions and declines in two: New England (down 1.2%) and East North Central (down 0.1%). The Mountain region posted the largest month-over-month price gain (up 1.6%), followed by the West North Central region (up 1.2%), the Middle Atlantic region (up 1.0%), the East South Central region (up 0.8%), the Pacific and West South Central regions (up 0.7%) and the South Atlantic region (up 0.4%).

ALSO READ: America’s Richest (and Poorest) States

Want to Retire Early? Start Here (Sponsor)

Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?

Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.