No. 16: Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Tex.

No. 16: Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Tex.

Q1 Home price index: 4.9 percent
Q1 Foreclosure rate (YOY change): 1.5 percent (up 66.1 percent)
Q1 90+ day delinquency rate (YOY change): 6.3 percent (up 30 percent)
April 2010 unemployment rate: 8.4 percent

Like Dallas, the Houston area has been one of the country's stronger markets, thanks in large part to the energy industry. Prices increased significantly in the first quarter, but Housingpredictor.com warns there is still an excess of inventory. Also, sales, boosted by the first-time buyer tax credit, may slow.