We know that median prices are a terrible way to gauge pricing, but they can indicate the relative temperature of the higher-end market.  If we see the median price rising, then there are more of the higher-end homes selling than in the previous period.

Here are the year-over-year median-price comparisons for detached sales around North San Diego County’s Coastal region for the second quarter, and first half of the year (from our MLS):

Town or Area
2Q11
2Q12
%chg.
1H11
1H12
%chg.
SE Carlsbad, 92009
$706,974
$706,000
-0-
$688,421
$697,000
+1.3%
SW Carlsbad, 92011
$740,000
$700,000
-5.4%
$705,000
$707,450
-0-
Encinitas, 92024
$760,000
$800,000
+5.2%
$739,000
$795,852
+7.7%
RSF, 92067/91
$1,600,000
$1,885,000
+17.8%
$1,900,000
$2,170,000
+14.2%
Del Mar/Solana
$1,250,000
$1,145,000
-8.4%
$1,247,000
$1,100,000
-11.8%
Carmel Vly, 92130
$898,587
$870,000
-3.1%
$917,250
$852,500
-7.1%
NSDCC
$850,000
$837,000
-1.5%
$845,000
$815,000
-3.6%

The TV talking heads will have a field day if the median prices are trending lower after everyone has been calling bottom, but all we really know is that the lower-end has been hotter than the higher-end.

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