Economic conditions remain much stronger in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West than elsewhere in the United States, at least if housing prices are an accurate guide.
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Economic conditions remain much stronger in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West than elsewhere in the United States, at least if housing prices are an accurate guide.
All seven states with the highest increases in house prices in 12 months through the end of March are in one of those two areas. In order, they are Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, New Mexico and Oregon. Mississippi, Louisiana and North Carolina round out the Top 10.
The West also dominates the list of metro areas with the biggest price gains in 12 months through March. Top movers in the western states: Boise-Nampa (No. 8), Corvallis (9), Bend (10), Spokane (11), Salem (13), Longview (14), Seattle-Bellevue-Everett (16), and Tacoma (19).
Washington’s house prices, fueled by booms in aerospace and software, remain especially strong. Five of the top 20 U.S. metro areas are in Washington. One-year price increases exceeded 10% in a majority of Washington’s ranked metro areas.
The table underscores the point: Prosperity is widespread in the Pacific Northwest, not confined to just a few areas. Who would have imagined that home prices would rise faster in Tacoma and Spokane than in the Seattle area — due in part to starting from a lower base?
— Excerpted from Marple’s Pacific Northwest Letter, editor Michael Parks. For information about this biweekly report on Northwest economic trends, visit www.marples.com.
