The New York realtors have their march numbers out. "Sales of existing single-family homes in New York gained strength in March compared to the previous month. The March 2006 sales total fell 3.4 percent from the March 2005 sales total of 7,007."

"While sales were up, the preliminary data showed a decline in the median sales price from February 2006. The median remained unchanged in March 2006 compared to the same period a year earlier."

The group reports each month as preliminary, and the numbers are revised the next month. According to the printouts from January 2006, the statewide median of $319,000 was revised down to $300,000. Now the February 2006 statewide median of $300,000 has been revised down to $278,000.

The March 2005 statewide median is reported at $259,900. The preliminary number for March 2006 is $260,000.

Some county medians from the NYSAR files: Nassau is down 5.1% from the previous month. Putnam is off 8.5% from the previous month and 11.7% from a year ago. The Rockland median dropped 9.1% from the previous month. And Westchester declined 9.45 from February 2006 levels.

About Westchester. "A Westchester real estate agents' group is declaring that the local housing boom has fizzled. The median selling price of a house in Westchester this winter was $650,000, up just 5.7% over a year, the Westchester-Putnam MLS announced yesterday."

"It was the sixth consecutive quarter of single-digit increases, and the real estate group proclaimed that after eight years, 'The boom is over.'"

"The number of houses sold was down 14% from a year ago, and the number of available houses was up by a third. The record median price for Westchester was set last summer at $711,700. In the fall, the median price was $652,250."

"In Putnam County, the median price for a house was $375,000, down 8.5% from the year before, the group said."