New data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) show that, overall, house prices in Arkansas continue to rise, albeit more slowly than the national average.  According to the FHFA Expanded Data Indexes*, Arkansas house prices rose by 0.8% in the first quarter, compared to a 1.5% increase nationwide.  Since the first quarter of 2015, Arkansas prices were up 4.15 while prices for the total U.S. were up 5.5%.  As shown in the figure below, the most recent price increase in Arkansas lifts the expanded-data index above the level of it’s pre-recession peak.

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)

The expanded-data indexes are not available for metropolitan areas, but the FHFA does publish “All-Transactions Indexes*” for metro areas.  The table below shows that by this measure, prices in Arkansas were down slightly in the first quarter, and declined in Fort Smith, Hot Springs, Texarkana, and the non-metropolitan areas of the state as well.  Over the past four quarters, however, prices are up in every metro area except Fort Smith.

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency, Seasonally Adjusted by the Institute for Economic Advancement.

As shown in the accompanying figure, the metro areas that have experienced the largest price increases over the past five years are generally those that experienced the largest price-declines during the 2007-2011 housing market collapse.  That pattern is generally true for other parts of the nation as well.

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency, Seasonally Adjusted by the Institute for Economic Advancement.

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* The “All-Transactions Indexes” are constructed using all home sales and refinancing information collected by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  The “Expanded Data Indexes” enhance this information with information collected from county recorders’ offices.