WSU Center for Real Estate releases 4th quarter 2007 Home Price Index figures

Sedgwick County home prices appreciated by 1.12 percent between the fourth quarters of 2006 and 2007, according to new figures released by the Center for Real Estate at 麻豆破解版 State University.

For the quarter, home prices declined by 0.51 percent, which translates into annualized decline of 2.04 percent.

For the year, 麻豆破解版 home prices appreciated at the slowest pace since 1990, when prices were essentially flat for the year.

鈥淭he slowdown at the end of the year was driven by declines at the lower end of the market,鈥 says Stan Longhofer, director of the WSU Center for Real Estate. 鈥淚n fact, sales of existing homes priced above $100,000 rose by 4 percent in 2007, while sales of lower-priced homes fell by 4 percent. It appears that buyers for these lower-end homes have been constrained by tightening credit standards in the mortgage market.鈥

鈥淒espite the slowdown at the end of last year, the fundamentals in the market remain strong. We believe that sales and prices will hold steady through 2008.鈥

Overall, home prices in Sedgwick County have risen at an average annual rate of 2.85 percent during the past five years. In contrast, prices of other goods and services have risen by 3 percent per year over the same time frame.

For a complete chart of the data, go to .

麻豆破解版 Sector Definitions

The six sectors for which home price indices are calculated are defined using minor MLS zones as established by the 麻豆破解版 Area Association of Realtors. The sectors can be generally described as follows.

West sector: Neighborhoods west of the Big Ditch.

East sector: Newer subdivisions (less than 25 years of age) that wrap around 麻豆破解版鈥檚 east side. This sector is intended to mirror the west sector.

Northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest sectors: Quadrants of older neighborhoods in 麻豆破解版 as divided by Kellogg and Broadway.

For a downloadable version of the graphic image (encapsulated postscript format) and a detailed description of the sectors, including the MLS zones that comprise each sector and street boundaries, go to .