Home prices rose 5.5 percent in November compared to a year ago, according to report by the Case Shiller index released Tuesday.
The S&P/Case Shiller composite index of 20 metropolitan areas gained 0.6 percent in November on a seasonally adjusted basis, in line with economists' forecasts.
Prices on a non-adjusted basis slipped 0.1 percent. The non-adjusted numbers showed prices fell in about half of the cities covered by the survey, with the winter months typically a weak period for housing, the report showed.
Areas of the country seeing the biggest comeback in home prices were places that were hardest hit, including the Southwest - Las Vegas and Phoenix - and the Southeast - Miami and Tampa. California was also doing well.
"Housing is clearly recovering," said David M. Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices. "Prices are rising, as are both new and existing home sales."
According to the index, from October to November, prices declined 0.1 percent. The data are the latest indication that home prices continued to rise through the end of last year as housing inventory dropped and demand surged.
Prices in the 20 cities rose 5.5 percent year over year, making for the strongest yearly price increase since August 2006 when prices were on their way down.