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Charlotte-area home prices continued a slow creep upward in June, according to a closely watched index released this morning.
Area sales prices remain in negative territory compared with a year ago, but rose .7 percent from May to June, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index. While that was down slightly from the previous month's uptick, it was the third monthly gain in four months and further evidence prices are stabilizing.
The increase comes as the broader index of 20 metropolitan areas also has been improving.
“For the second month in a row, we're seeing some positive signs,” said David Blitzer, chairman of S&P's index committee, adding “there are hints of an upward turn from a bottom.”
Home prices and sales remain well off their highs, locally and nationwide, but today's Case-Shiller reading adds to a growing list of small improvements.
The index is especially meaningful because it tracks repeat sales of existing houses, the most precise broad measure of how home values are adding up. Charlotte's run of rising values outlasted the 19 other markets for a long time. But in April 2008, the region turned to losses. This March, Charlotte saw a tiny gain, followed by an April decline and now two consecutive months of gains.
Charlotte's prices compared with a year ago also improved, moving out of double digit losses, to a 9.6 percent decline. That remained the fifth smallest decline of the group.
Compared with a year ago, all 20 of the index's markets remain down. But 18 areas had positively monthly gains in June, up from 13 in May. Phoenix, long the most depressed market, saw a monthly gain. Las Vegas registered the biggest monthly loss, which pushed it into last place, with prices down 32.4 percent from a year ago.
