Veros Real Estate Solutions has reported that, although residential real estate values and appreciation grew during the fourth quarter of 2013, it was at a slower rate than previous quarters.  This may indicate that the market is topping out, Veros has concluded.  That report analyzed 345 metro areas.  It indicated an average of 5.1 percent appreciation on home prices is expected for the top 100 metro areas over the next 12 months — up from the fourth quarter’s 4.8 percent rate of appreciation. The five strongest markets for appreciation are projected to be:

1. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif., at 13.4 percent 2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif., at 10.7 percent 3. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash., at 10.2 percent 4. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif., at 9.6 percent 5. Midland, Texas, at 9.5 percent The five weakest markets for appreciation are projected to be:

1. Atlantic City, N.J., at -1.7 percent 2. Kingston, N.Y., at -1.7 percent 3. Fayetteville, N.C., at -1.3 percent 4. Norwich-New London, Conn., at -1.2 percent 5. Rockford, Ill., at -1.1 percent