Amador County - Amador County reported 24 home sales in February, staying true to an increasing regional trend of sales based on bank repos. But while sales continue to rise, home prices continue to fall. According to MDA Dataquick, a company that gathers statistical information on housing trends, Sacramento region median sales prices fell to $160,000 during February, down nearly 40 percent from $257,000 during the same month last year. Sales of existing homes and new homes were up 51 percent as a result. Amador County home sales are up 33.3 percent from last February. Dataquick says sales are being fueled by lower interest rates tipping towards 5 percent in many cases for 30 year loans. Special government financing requiring just 3.5 percent down payments also play a major factor. Neighboring El Dorado County reported 128 sales, up about 1 percent from last year. The median sales price there is $325,000, down 19.8 percent. Placer County reported 355 closed escrows, down 13.2 percent from the same time last year. The county's median sales price - where half cost more and half less - was $315,000, down 13.5 percent over the past year. Other interesting statistics show median prices in the Bay Area falling below $300,000 for the first time since Dec. 1999. Prices in the Los Angeles region, meanwhile, stabilized in February after eight months of declines, at $250,000. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.