Real Estate: The best - and the worst - of 2007

It was a brutal year for housing - but not all markets are ailing.

By Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer

Top 5 fastest-appreciating housing markets
City	Median price	12-month % increase
Bismarck, ND	$161,600	15.3%
Salt Lake City, UT	$246,700	14.1%
Yakima, WA	$163,200	13.6%
Binghamton, NY	$119,600	11.4%
Charlotte, NC	$220,100	11.0%

Source: National Association of Realtors

5 of 9

Fastest price gain

Bismarck, N.D.

Key stat: Over the past 12 months, the median home price in Bismarck jumped 15.3%, to lead the nation

It was a big gain, according to the National Association of Realtors, but it brought the median house price there to only $161,600.

No high-priced markets grew nearly as fast. Among high-priced cities, the San Jose, Calif. metro area, where the median price rose to $852,500, recorded the highest percentage increase at 9.4%.

Last updated December 28 2007: 2:29 PM ET

Most expensive Least expensive Most affordable Least affordable Fastest price gains Biggest drop in home price Biggest projected decline Fastest-growing Safest

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