South Tops Annual 25 Real Estate Market Forecasts

Nine of the nation's strongest remaining real estate2,000 square feet.
markets still appreciating are located in the southernMonroe, Louisiana has seen a post hurricane Katrina
part of the nation, according to a study conductedboom of its own and will finish 2006 with a spike of
by Real Estate Add.com, an information driven7.6% in appreciation. Many residents of the New
website, which provides real estate news and localOrleans area, severely devastated by hurricane
market forecasts on all 50 US states.Katrina nearly a year ago, have moved out of the
Lakeland, Florida, long regarded as a retirementNew Orleans area to Monroe, which is located in the
haven, which has seen a booming real estate marketnorthern part of Louisiana.
for more than five years tops the website's annualCharleston and Charlotte, South Carolina are
list of the Top 25 US real estate markets. Theexperiencing the largest growth in the communities
website economists predict Lakeland will completehistories. Many retirees are moving to both area's
2006 with 13% in appreciation on a median price ofbecause of more affordable housing and tax
just $170,000.advantages.
El Centro, California located in the heart of California'sCities in western states also made the website's top
rich agricultural farmland in Imperial Valley tied for25 appreciating real estate markets, including some in
second at 12.0% appreciation by year's end. The ElWashington, Oregon, New Mexico and Idaho. Boise,
Centro housing market has been fueled by first timeIdaho, which is forecast to double in size over the
home buyers, many of whom are citizens of Mexiconext ten years, tied for the seventh position in the
awaiting US citizenship through expected changes inannual appreciation forecast with Bend, Oregon at
US immigration laws. Coeur d'Alene, Idaho tied for the8.5%. Little Bend has seen a second home market
second position in the annual appreciation forecast atdevelop never experienced before in Oregon, mainly
12% on a median price of $118,000.due to the area's success attracting winter snow
South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky remainskiers and it's less expensive housing compared to
strongly appreciating real estate markets nationally.neighboring California. The median price for a home in
The south-east is experiencing the largest populationBend is now $201,000.
growth and migration of new residents in history, dueSt. George, Utah ranked fourth in forecast
in part to changing weather patterns and increasinglyappreciation at 11.5% on a median price of $134,000.
severe winter weather in northern states.St. Lake City was not included in the top 25, but the
Jackson, Tennessee will finish 2006 with 8.0%market remains fairly strong in sales activity and
appreciation on average in a housing market that hasappreciation.
barley slowed down from its rapid pace of 2005. TheSpokane, Washington ranked sixteenth in the
median price for a single family home in Jackson isforecast. Spokane has been witnessing the strongest
just $86,000, fueling a market of home buyers whomarket it has had in more than ten years and is
are looking for less expensive housing than in manyforecast to finish 2006 at an average appreciation of
other parts of the nation.7.9% on a median home price of $164,000.
The Memphis, Tennessee market is also still reportingThe highest priced market to make the list is
heavy sales volume, but not at the rapid pace of aHonolulu, Hawaii with a median price of $610,000. On
year earlier. Memphis is forecast to finish 2006 withthe opposite end of the spectrum is Brownsville,
7.7% in appreciation.Texas, which has some of the least expensive
Other southern states with still high flying marketshousing in America with a median price of just
include Bowling Green, Kentucky where the median$69,000.
price of $128,000 can buy a home of more than