Sales of new homes during the month totaled just 392, while in February 2000 482 new homes were sold and during the same month of 1999 new home sales totaled 428. Resales in February totalled 947, compared to more than 1,000 during the same time period in the past two years.

The lower numbers don't worry housing analyst John Strobeck, who publishes the market letter. "One or two months is not a trend," he says.

While closing numbers are down, permit numbers remain solid, notes Strobeck.

During February, 589 building permits for single-family residential construction were issued, the second highest ever for the month behind last year's figure of 667.

For every year since 1992, with the exception of 1999, the average sale price for a new home has increased, by as much as $10,000 in a year, and that trend continues, according to Strobeck

Based on February figures, the average new home price is $167,163 in Tucson, up more than $10,000 over last year's figure at the same time. The average new home price was $157,133 in February 2000 and $144,599 in February 1999.

Tucson is ranked seventh on the list of most affordable housing areas in the West, according to a fourth-quarter survey by the National Association of Home Builders. Phoenix is third on that list. Nationally, Tucson ranks 122nd of the most affordable of big cities for housing, while Phoenix is 93rd.