TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The monthly housing statistics and the Alabama Housing Affordability Index compiled by the Alabama Center for Real Estate at The University of Alabama are now available on the Web site http://acre.cba.ua.edu/housing_statistics.php.

The historical statistics are broken down by 23 areas and presented by month from January 1995. The Alabama Housing Affordability Index goes through the second quarter of 2008, and the housing statistics are current through August 2008.

The Alabama Housing Affordability Index is calculated as the ratio of the state’s actual median family income to the income needed to buy and finance the state’s median-priced home -- the higher the number, the more affordable the housing.

According to the monthly housing statistics report, there were 4,017 homes sold in Alabama in August, with an average selling price of $168,572 after 131 days on the market.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is in the midst of planned, steady enrollment growth with a goal of reaching 28,000 students by 2010. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA's vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.