It seems that I have two local real estate professionals correcting my statement that you are in one of the only parts of the USA seeing appriciation in price.

I stand corrected, based on your statements and you need to contact the news media to let them know of the continued price appriciation in your are.

We work nationwide as real estate auctioneers and every market we have worked in over the past two years has seen steady depriciation or equity erosion in housing values.

Congratulations on holding the line in values

Real estate is LOCAL. Just because it's bad in Maryland doesn't mean it's bad here...and just because the media says it's bad "everywhere" doesn't means it's true. See my blog here or referenced below please for local statistics.

Billy it is only 9% according to CNNMONEY
Home prices in record 9% decline
Foreclosures take heavy toll on home prices but bargain hunters are re-entering worst-hit markets.

See all CNNMoney.com RSS FEEDS (close) By Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer
Last Updated: November 18, 2008: 1:09 PM ET


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- National home prices, driven lower by a flood of foreclosures, plummeted in the third quarter by a record 9% year-over-year, according to a report issued Tuesday.

ALABAMA AS A WHOLE IS THIRD ON TOP MARKETS

10 fastest growing real estate markets
3 of 10 Birmingham, Alabama
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12-month forecast: 2.7%
Median home price: $156,000
One year price change: 2.9%
Five year price change: 29.4%
Change in foreclosure rate: 20%


SO BILLY YOU HAVE YOUR MARKET WE HAVE OURS SO GO CRY TO SOMBODY ELSE

and think before you speak (or type)

ALABAMA is still a Great place to buy or invest - so give me a call if you need any help

WOW:

Florence and the surrounding areas have seen a steady 4-5% increase in value over the last few years.

The entire USA has seen a 20% to 40% decrease in property values over the past two-years but two local "listing agents" are telling you the area is the only place in the USA where property values are going up 4% to 5% per year.

Its amazing that someone would give you answers like that in the worst real estate market since the great depression.

Take a look at this website, it has links to articles from major MSM news sources about the real estate crash:

http://patrick.net/housing/crash.html

These people sound like the same type who said "there is no housing bubble, real estate always goes up and never goes down..."

Alabama has lots of professional auctioneers who do nothing but sell real estate at auction. My suggestion would be to call one of them who can come and look at your property and give you a truthful analysis.

I agree with Barry. Florence and the surrounding areas have seen a steady 4-5% increase in value over the last few years. However, two years is not enough time to build much equity in your home. One way to find out what your house might bring on the market today is to have a real estate agent complete a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), or another option would be to have it appraised by a licensed appraiser.

I would be glad to take a look at your home and give you my opinion. The CMA is free and at no obligation. Give me a call or email anytime.

4.5% growth per year unless you bought under the market value at the time. You will be lucky to break even if you sale at this point but I would contact a local agent in the area for better numbers. Good luck and I hope everythig works out for you.

If you would like me to find a good agent in the area for youI will be glad to assist. Sorry to be so glum but thats the market the upside is that if you will be buying in a down market so you might come out alright.