WASHINGTON, DC-March wasn’t a stellar month for home ownership,given statistics from the newly-released Improving Markets Index, ajoint venture of the National Association of Home Builders andFirst American Title. The newly-released Index shows that thenumber of housing markets tweaked up just a bit—to 99 in March,remaining virtually flat.

Currently 33 states, including the District of Columbia, arerepresented by at least one market on the list. New entrants on theIMI in March include Orlando; Rochester, NY; Columbus, OH; andAustin and San Antonio, TX. The index gauges these markets throughseveral markers including housing permits, employment and houseprices.

NAHB chief economist David Crowe notes that, after an extendedperiod of growth, the March IMI held virtually flat at just under100 metros. “This is consistent with NAHB’s projections for agradual but patchy recovery in which some month-to-month softeningis likely, particularly in places where the measurable gains havebeen very small,” he says. “The bottom line is that roughly onequarter of all US metropolitan areas are showing signs that theirhousing markets have turned the corner, which is a very positivedevelopment.”