Home Prices Slightly Up In Metro Atlanta

In Monday's consumer and money headlines, home prices were slightly up in Atlanta in July, despite prices falling sharply nationwide.

Encouraging news in the Atlanta housing market, with the Metro area among one of seven cities nationally where home prices either went up slightly or remained steady. The closely watched S&P-Case Shiller Index shows Metro Atlanta home prices up ½ percent in July over June, following another slight increase for the previous month. Nationally, home prices fell at their sharpest annual rate ever in July.

Adding to a strong buyers market are home mortgage rates that continue below the national average. The best 30-year Metro Atlanta fixed rate stands at 5.875 percent and no points, while the national average stands at 6.02 percent. In the shorter term, the best 15 year fixed rate is set at 5.50% and no points, with the national average at 5.73 percent.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is reporting record summer and fall audiences at its newest venue -- Encore Park in Alpharetta. The ASO says average attendance at each Symphony concert at the Verizon Amphitheatre was 3,000 -- double the audiences at Symphony Hall in Midtown Atlanta.

The ASO says the Encore Park grand opening night in May attracted 7,000 people. In addition, the ASO says more than 8,000 free tickets were distributed for its Metro Atlanta park concerts.