LA Times - "L.A. County Home Prices Post Their Lowest Gain in Six Years" (9-14-06)

"The 4.7% year-over-year rise is below the area's historical average growth. San Diego's median drops again."

"Fewer buyers entered the market in August compared with a year earlier, eroding sales to levels not seen in a decade. In Los Angeles County, 9,193 homes were sold last month, the fewest since August 1997 and a 21% drop from year-earlier volumes, according to DataQuick. August was the county's ninth straight month of plunging year-over-year sales rates."

"Slow sales pulled down price growth in Los Angeles County, where the median price rose 4.7% year over year to $517,000 in August. That was the slowest rate of appreciation since the housing boom began six years ago and was below the county's historical average growth rate of 7%, according to DataQuick."