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-depreciating housing markets
City	Median price	% loss
Palm Bay, FL	$182,400	12.4%
Sacramento, CA	$335,700	10.5%
Sarasota, FL	$287,400	10.4%
New Orleans, LA	$160,200	8.2%
Hagerstown, MD	$208,400	8.0%

Source: National Association of Realtors

6 of 9

Biggest drop in home price

Palm Bay, Fla.

Key stat: From a year earlier, the median home price in the third quarter in Palm Bay dropped 12.4%.

Home prices in many once-thriving Sun-Belt housing markets have cratered, according to the National Association of Realtors.Home price depreciation struck many more markets this year than last and the losses were spread throughout the nation. Cities as far apart as Detroit, Hagerstown, Md., and Reno, Nev. all recorded substantial declines.

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

Cars: Best of the best 2007

The models that rose to the top in nine categories (more)

Make room: Space saving tips

Here's the best gear for organizing stuff now and impressing buyers later. (more)

3 iPhone alternatives

Affordable mobile phones with access to a growing library of digital music. (more)