The Coachella Valley's housing market continues in an equilibrium phase, moving in favor of buyers. But the region is far from a bargain-hunter's paradise, with only 10 percent of local households able to afford the median-priced home based on working income, according to the California Association of Realtors.

Home sales in the Coachella Valley hit a four-year low in February, while in the same month the median price of a home hit an all-time high.

The median sales price reached $418,500 - up 21 percent from a year ago, according to newly released figures from DataQuick Information Systems.

High-end homes dominated the ranks of those sold locally in February. Continuing a trend of the past several months, the 312 homes sold in the over-$400,000 range outnumbered the combined totals of four other lower-priced categories.

Resale single-family homes, resale condos, and new construction homes all saw year-over-year drops in total sales, with resale condos down 42.3 percent. Still, all three categories saw rises in median price, led by new construction homes, up by 20.3 percent to $446,500.

Lou Hirsch -The Desert Sun -6.23