by Osman Parvez

Last week, CNN published a housing forecast for 379 metro areas nationwide. The forecast calls for…

“a significant stagnation in housing prices for the United States in 2006 — median home prices overall will inch up only 1.5 percent this year. And many metro areas will experience drops, including some of the largest, and most expensive, ones such as New York (down 2.43 percent), Los Angeles (down 3 percent) and Washington (down 1.9 percent)”

Meanwhile, according to the study, all metro areas in Colorado are anticipated to appreciate in 2006. Here’s the breakdown:

Boulder 3.7%
Colorado Springs 4.7%
Denver-Aurora 2.8%
Fort Collins and Loveland 3.5%
Grand Junction 2.6%
Greeley 0.9%
Pueblo 3.4%

Nationwide – St. George, Utah and Coeur a’Alene, Idaho topped the list for anticipated appreciation in 2006 with 14.7% and 12.8%, respectively. At the bottom of the list, Los Vegas-Paradise, NV and Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, CA are expected to depreciate 8.2% and 6.7%, respectively.

It’s worth noting that according to CNN’s Best Places to Live 2005 Study, two cities in Colorado topped the list for job growth since 1990. Castle Rock and Parker both experienced 244% job growth.

And if you’re looking to avoid living in a cold climate, you may want to cross off Minnesota. All 10 of the coldest places to live were located in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Brrr…

p.s. Weather wise, Boulder ranks better than many cities. Here’s a winter temperature comparison to places I’ve lived or currently have friends/family.

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