Are Real Estate Prices Falling or Rising?

I've had clients get scared to death about selling their home because of what they saw on "Good Morning America" or read in USA Today.  It's true that home sales in the fourth quarter of 2006 were down over 10% from the same period of 2005.  But that's nationally.  Nationally, home prices were down almost 3% too.
THE GREAT NEWS:  According to my Huntington area MLS, home sales were only down 3% from 2005 to 2006.  However, prices went UP 5%.  Since 2004, average sale prices have gone up %12!  The biggest winner seems to be across the Ohio River in Lawrence County, Ohio (don't worry clients, I'm licensed there also).  The number of homes sold has increased by 22% over the last two years.  The new bypass that takes drivers around Proctorville instead of through it should help even more.  Areas like Applewood are now only ten minutes from downtown Huntington. 
More to come...