High/low house price data leaves out southeast...except Florida

    The latest year-to-year house price data shows only one town in the southeast, Spartanburg, SC, on either the biggest gainers or biggest losers list, except, of course, for the continuing erosion in Florida.  Spartanburg, home of BMW of North America and a generally stable area economically, saw average price gains of 10% between the first quarters of 2007 and 2008.
    On the other side of the data, California cities did worst, with Sacramento leading the list with a 29% price drop.  Houses in the metro area of Sarasota, FL which includes Bradenton and Venice, sold for 22% less this year than last.  Miami/Ft. Lauderdale lost 17%.
    The data was provided by the National Association of Realtors and is listed in today's edition of USA Today.