In a few pockets of the country, though, home values have held their own, and some have even seen slight increases. The best place to own a home right now? Texas. Relatively conservative lending practices in the Lone Star State have buttressed homeowners from the worst of the subprime-mortgage mess. Additionally, Texas has a vibrant and diverse manufacturing sector, which has kept unemployment – and foreclosures – low.

The hardest-hit metro areas have been in the Central Valley and the Southwest, where speculative building and subprime loans a few years ago inflated the housing bubble. Now, the recession and job losses are pushing more homes into foreclosure. In turn, foreclosure bargains are luring new home buyers into the market and increasing number of sales but dragging median home values further down.

To see the ten metropolitan areas where median home values have increased the most, take a look at our slide show, Ten Cities With Rising Home Values. And to see where home values have dropped the most, check out our slide show, Ten Cities Where Home Prices Have Plummeted.

Researching the top ten cities where home values increased in 2008, we identified a few characteristics of successful real estate markets. Not every city on our list shares all of these characteristics, but a combination of them has spelled success for many metro areas.

A diverse set of industries. When a community relies too heavily on one sector, changes in that industry can be devastating to the local economy. A solid blend of midsize manufacturing and retail companies minimizes unemployment and keeps the local economy stable.

A college or university. In State College, Pennsylvania, for example, Penn State University is the local economy’s lifeblood, keeping housing prices on an even keel. But even in towns without major universities, smaller community colleges can provide secure jobs and attract home buyers.

A major hospital. Health care is one of the few industries still growing during the recession. Hospitals, especially regional ones, provide lots of jobs over large areas and help to stabilize housing values.