Real Estate 2010

MONEY Magazine: Latest forecasts and projections for the nation's largest metro areas.

1. Santa Rosa, CA

Home price forecast (1 year):* 6.0%

Many cities close to the Bay Area saw a huge run-up in home prices during the boom as real estate buyers branched out to less expensive markets. Santa Rosa, the largest city in northern California's wine country, was no exception: Prices grew more than 121% from 2000 to the early 2006 peak.

They've since plunged more than 45%. But forecasts show the decline is over and Santa Rosa prices will gain 6% this year, more than any other U.S. city. --Les Christie

See Santa Rosa on Money's Best Places to Live

Is this a good time to buy a home in Santa Rosa?

City stats^†
Population: (2006)	466,891
Median family income: (2008)	$77,800
Home price data
Median home price: (2009)	$345,000
Affordability index: (Median home price/family income 2009)	4.4
Prices peaked in:	2006:Q1
Total climb during the boom: (2000 to peak)	121.7%
Total decline so far: (Peak through 2009)	-45.6%
One-year change: (Q4 2008 to Q4 2009)	-5.9%
Forecast
Additional price change to bottom:	-6.4%
When they'll hit bottom:	2010:Q1

*(Q1 2010 - Q1 2011)
† Data is for Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Notes:
Median home prices are for single-family homes through the third quarter of 2009, the most recent data available, and include sales of bank-owned properties.
Sources: Fiserv and Moody's Economy.com

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