North Texas home sales fell by double-digits in August 2009 from a year earlier.

But despite the decline, prices are still holding up.

Local real estate agents sold 6,338 pre-owned homes though the multiple listing service last month – a 15 percent decline from August 2008, according to the latest statistics from the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University and the North Texas Real Estate Information System.

Home sales are down 19 percent through the first eight months of 2009 compared with the same period of last year.

But so far, median sales prices have fallen only 2 percent and were unchanged last month at $150,000.

At the end of August, 38,166 homes were listed for sale in the area – 14 percent less than a year earlier. That adds up to a 6.5 month supply.

Source: DallasNews.com

Two metro areas in Texas have been named among the hottest buyers markets by Housing Predictor, a real estate analysis and forecasting site.

The top 10 buyers markets listed by Housing Predictor at mid-year are markets that aren't necessarily big arts and entertainment centers, mostly found in smaller communities.

Amarillo, Texas takes the first position as the nation's top buyers market in 2009 with the highest likelihood of housing appreciation over the next few years. Austin, Texas and Tucson, Arizona are the largest metro areas to be named to the list possessing the highest probability of growing through the recessionary economy over the next few years. As a high-tech hub, Austin will have what it takes to not only sustain the downturn but see home values inflate.

Listed from highest forecast appreciation to lowest.

10 Hottest Buyers Markets:

1. Amarillo, TX

2. Sioux Falls, SD

3. Biloxi, MS

4. Logan, UT

5. Bismarck, ND

6. Bozeman, MT

7. Baton Rouge, LA

8. Austin, TX

9. Casper, WY

10. Tucson, AZ

Source: Housing Predictor