Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, February 28, 2012

The latest Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller Home Price Index reporting data through December 2011 shows a drop in Washington metropolitan *area* home prices:

• Washington area - prices showed a monthly drop of 1.2% from November to December and a decrease of 1.6% from December 2010.
• Nationwide - home prices showed a monthly drop of 3.8% from November to December and a decrease of 4% from December 2010.

When reviewing the data keep in mind:

• Report Date - These numbers are for December 2011.  The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices are published on a two month lag to offset delays in sales price data from county deed recorders.
• Property Type - The index reports single-family/detached home prices only; condo and co-op sales statistics are not included in the analysis. 

S&P methodology defines the Washington metropolitan area as including parts of three states and the District of Columbia:

• Washington, DC
• Maryland - Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince Georges.
• Virginia - Alexandria City, Arlington, Clarke, Fairfax, Fairfax City, Falls Church City, Fauquier, Fredericksburg City, Loudoun, Manassas City, Manassas Park City, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren.
• West Virginia - Jefferson.

For more specific sales statistics in your neighborhood search the database of RealEstate Business Intelligence (RBI).  RBI is the research component of Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRIS) -- the Washington area's multiple listing service.  Simply enter your zip code or neighborhood and get sales statistics instantly.