Our neighbors in Colorado may have a faltering housing market, but if you own a house in Casper, sleep easy - its value is only going up.

The Casper Board of Realtors recently announced that house sales in Central Wyoming are strong, ranking second in the nation for appreciation values.

In 2003 the average house price in the Casper area was $126,000. In 2007, homes were selling for $202,000 on average, stated a board release.

Ed Toohey, president-elect of the board of Realtors, said he and other board members wanted the public to know that while the national market may not be doing well, that's not what's happening in the Casper area.

The time a house is on the market has increased slightly since January 2007, but Board President Randy Hall said the amount is "statistically unremarkable." The first month of 2007 saw houses on the market for 97 days, and this month houses averaged 109 days on the market, according to the Multiple Listing Service.

There were 278 houses on the market in January 2007, the listing service stated, and 359 on the market this January. Many factors influence these numbers, including an unusually harsh winter that discourages shopping for homes, said Hall.

Yet even 359 houses may not be enough houses to fill the need in central Wyoming.

The number of houses sold in the Casper area continues to rise, with 1,194 in 2003, 1,377 in 2005 and 1,492 in 2007.

Hall said the housing market may be calming down, with fewer houses under construction compared with a year ago. Toohey said the slowdown may be necessary, keeping the housing market strong instead of following a growing national trend.

Contact city reporter Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@trib.com