The researchers at Clear Capital say the housing market in most of the nation's largest cities continues to steadily improve but remains vulnerable to any new shocks. Prices in many MSAs are expected to climb nicely in 2012 — a dozen cities should see average gains of 4 percent or more — but Nashville isn't one of them. Clear Capital has us barely topping break even this year, lagging Memphis and Louisville, but well ahead of Birmingham, Charlotte and Atlanta.