The number of housing markets considered to be “improving” increased this month, but Des Moines was dropped from the list.

The National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index added 76 metropolitan areas to its list to total 201 areas, according to data released today.

The index identifies metro areas that have shown improvement in housing permits, employment and house prices for at least six consecutive months.

The list includes seven Iowa cities, including newly added Davenport, Waterloo and Dubuque, but dropped Des Moines. To qualify, a metro area has to have had improved in number of buildings, sales prices and employment over the previous six months.

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