The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of the Treasury compile a comprehensive report on the housing market each month in an effort to track the progress of the federal government’s recovery efforts. The Housing Scorecard tracks key market data as well as programs aimed at providing relief to homeowners still recovering from the housing crisis. In October, the data shows important progress in home prices, new home purchases, and existing home sales. Kurt Usowski, HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs, said homeowners’ equity is at its highest level since 2007 and home prices continue to improve, both indicating that things are moving in the right direction. Since the beginning of 2012, equity is up 50 percent or $3.1 trillion. More here.