“In the South Sound, the Home Value Index for Olympia was up 1.1 percent during December, but fell 6 percent for the year to $208,700.

The Zillow Home Value Forecast predicts home values nationwide will continue falling through December, but with smaller declines in 2012 than 2011. While home values in some individual markets are likely to reach a bottom this year, Zillow does not forecast a definitive national bottom until 2013. The forecast calls for a national decline of 3.7 percent in 2012.

During the fourth quarter, the rate of homes foreclosed edged upward from eight of every 10,000 homes during November to 8.2 of every 10,000 in December. However, the rate was lower than at the end of the third quarter, when 8.6 of every 10,000 homes were lost to foreclosure,” quoting the Pierce County Business Examiner.