Home prices still surging ... for now

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Prices for homes in the nation's 20 largest cities in June rose 12.1% over the last year, according to a report Tuesday from S&P/Case-Shiller home price index.

While that gain is still robust, it didn't quite match the gain of 12.2% reported for May. Rising mortgage rates may be to blame.

"With interest rates rising to almost 4.6%, home buyers may be discouraged and sharp increases may be dampened," David Blitzer, chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices, said in a press release.

Home prices have been on a tear for the last twelve months. June marks the first time in over a year that the overall increase has been smaller than the month before. While prices rose in all 20 cities measured by the index, only six cities in June saw price increases larger than the month before, down from 10 cities in May.

Prices in Dallas and Denver are hitting all-time highs, while San Francisco housing prices have notched the biggest rebound, rising 47% from their low in March 2009.

U.S. home prices are now at early 2004 levels -- still 23% below their peak in mid-2006.

Related: How the Fed can taper without killing housing

The recovering housing market has been a big part of the nation's economic recovery since the Great Recession. But some fear rising mortgage rates could but a damper on that growth.

Mortgage rates have risen more than a full percentage point since May, when Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke indicated the Fed may soon ease its bond buying program that's helped keep interest rates at record lows.

While some cheer the Fed stepping back from its unusual bond purchases amid fears the buying will spark inflation, some worry that it may be too soon.

First Published: August 27, 2013: 9:19 AM ET

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