Atlanta lags in home sale prices

Metro Atlanta's home sales prices lag the nation, says the latest report from the National Association of Realtors.

The region's median home sales price in the first quarter was $87,800, down from $99,800 in the first quarter of 2011. The national median existing single-family home price was $158,100, which is 0.4 percent below $158,700 in the first quarter of 2011.

About half of metro areas home prices gained a bit in the first quarter, which is up from last year. Home sales are up more than 4 percent nationally, the association says, which reflects metro Atlanta's experience.

Here, sales rose 11.8 percent from 2010 to 2011, according to Smart Numbers, a Marietta real estate tracking firm. But average prices are down from $135,000 to $115,000 in that period.

--Christopher Quinn

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