Monroe County housing, protected by IU's presence, job strength, faring relatively well

By Bill Strother, Herald-Times

bstrother@heraldt.com

For the most part, Monroe County homeowners have avoided the foreclosure abyss facing many in other areas of the state and nation during the current hard times.

Monroe's homeowners instead appear to have hunkered down, holding on to their houses while waiting for better prospects.

Monroe County home prices dropped a modest 2 percent last year, while home sales were down a substantial 11 percent for the same period. Combined, those numbers indicate that people aren't being forced into money-losing sales or action they can't afford.