A study by the Center for American Progress found that when violent crime rates drop in major cities, it can mean billions of dollars in increased home price gains, the HousingWire reports.

Murder, rape, assault and robberies have are costly for victims and the surrounding community. But (researchers) also found a stark correlation to home values. On average, a reduction of one homicide in a ZIP Code for a given year generates a 1.52% increase in home prices the next year, according to their analysis. — HousingWire

In other news:

Real estate (and the housing recovery) is local. The Wall Street Journal article, “The Myth of the National Housing Market,” looks at the trend that housing recoveries are local and broad national trends don’t always apply.