Little Known Washington County Logs 18 Percent Increase In Home Values

Yakima, WA (AHN) - A little-known Washington county has the second highest home price appreciation for the 4th quarter of 2007. Yakima's 18 percent was second to Cumberland in West Virginia, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Although sales are down, Jeannette Biddle, executive officer of the Yakima Association of Realtors, told USA Today the average price is nevertheless going up because homes priced above $500,000 are selling briskly to retirees investing and moving into the county.

Biddle added the Yakima homes, two hours drive from Seattle, is within reach of middle-income American families in search of second homes.

Yakima is more known, according to its county website, for having more fruit trees than any county in the U.S., with the bulk composed of apple, mint, winter pears and hops. The county has more than 200,000 residents with around 80,000 homes or an average density of 18 houses per square mile (7 square kilometer).