Home prices surged last year but, according to Trulia’s Price Monitor, the increases were a reaction to the housing crash more than the effects of an improved job market and economy. A recent analysis from Jed Kolko, Trulia’s chief economist, explains how the price gains seen throughout 2013 were a direct response to the housing crash. For example, the individual markets that experienced the highest price increases last year were also those that suffered the most severe price declines during the crash. In other words, the markets that had the most ground to make up were the ones with the most significant increases. Now that most areas have largely recovered the losses suffered during the housing crash, price gains should begin to slow. Kolko says – as the housing market continues to recover – factors such as job growth, rather than this recent rebound effect, will lead to more sustainable, and slower, price increases. Trulia’s Price and Rent Monitors measure how asking prices and rents are trending on both a national and local level. In December, home prices were up 11.9 percent over last year and 0.4 percent above the month before. More here.