The Des Moines housing market continues to perform slightly better than markets nationwide, and for the third quarter, the average price of a Des Moines area home was actually up 1 percent. However, home prices here continue to decline over the longer term, and the time a house sits on the market continues to lengthen.

According to a report released by the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors (DMAAR), the average sales price of a Des Moines home in October was $162,947.

Yet when last month’s average is compared to Des Moines’ two-year average of $169,359, home prices appear to be gradually declining.

However, even though last month’s average price is lower than the two-year figure, Mike Stanbrough, president of DMAAR, said that Des Moines is experiencing a slower decline in home prices when compared with national trends. His explanation is that Des Moines is not experiencing as many distressed property sales – foreclosures and short sales – as the rest of the country.

Nationally, distressed sales accounted for 35 to 40 percent of transactions in the third quarter, whereas only 15 percent of sales in Greater Des Moines in the third quarter were distressed.

“Iowans, in general, did not take the financial risks that people in other states did, so we aren’t defaulting on as many loans,” Stanbrough said in a release. “We also seem to take care of our properties here in Iowa.”

Yet regardless of Des Moines’ resistance to the national housing market trends, DMAAR reported that while 646 homes were sold in September, only 536 homes were sold in October. Additionally, there were 139 fewer active listings in October and homes were on the market for an average of two days longer.