(IsraelNN.com) Figures published in a housing report this week show that housing prices decreased by 3 percent nationwide in January and February, due to the international capital market crisis and slowdown in growth.  Yet prices in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem increased, with Tel Aviv residential real estate values growing by 7 percent and Jerusalem homes increasing in value by 3 percent.  The communities of Beitar Illit, Givat Ze'ev, and Tsur Hadassah, all in the vicinity of Jerusalem, saw value increases of over 10 percent. Prices in Ramat Gan, Azur, Caesarea, Petah Tikva, Givatayim, Kfar Yona, Modiin and Shoham increased by 10-13 percent.

Areas which saw particular decrease were Haifa and regions in the south.

In the first three months of 2008, the average price for an apartment was $198,915 (based on an exchange rate of $3.68), according to a report conducted by the Geocartography Knowledge group.