FNC: House prices increased 4.6% year-over-year in April

In addition to Case-Shiller, CoreLogic, FHFA and LPS, I'm also watching the FNC, Zillow and several other house price indexes.

From FNC: FNC Index: Rise in Home Prices Picks up in April

The latest FNC Residential Price Index™ (RPI) shows that U.S. home prices continue to rise in April, up 0.7% from the previous month. April’s gain marks the largest price acceleration since June 2012, caused in part by rising seasonal demand entering spring and summer.

... Based on recorded sales of non-distressed properties (existing and new homes) in the 100 largest metropolitan areas, the FNC 100-MSA composite index shows that April home prices rose much faster than in the previous months. The two narrower indices (30-MSA and 10-MSA composites) similarly recoded a nearly 1.0% increase. On a year-over-year basis, home prices were up 4.6% from a year ago. The indices have been revised downward for the prior months, resulting in more moderate annual price accelerations.

Note: This increase is partially seasonal.  This year prices were up 0.7% in April (from March).  Last year, in April 2012, prices were up 1.0% in April - so this is slower seasonal price appreciation.

The year-over-year change slowed in April, with the 100-MSA composite up 4.6% compared to April 2012. The FNC index turned positive on a year-over-year basis in July, 2012.

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the year-over-year change for the FNC Composite 10, 20, 30 and 100 indexes. Note: The FNC indexes are hedonic price indexes using a blend of sold homes and real-time appraisals.

Even with the recent increase, the FNC composite 100 index is still off 28.6% from the peak.