In February, the San Clemente home real estate market unexpectedly tripped over something.

Whether this little misstep turns out to be inconsequential or significant over the next few months remains to be seen.

Here’s what happened: According to data from the SoCal Multiple Listing Service, after dropping steadily for the previous two years, the local home market flattened out in November 2008 and began prancing down a flat but rocky road.

San Clemente’s monthly raw home median price skipped along between the low $600,000s and the high $600,000s, but remained remarkably flat on an average or seasonally adjusted basis. (Most real estate professionals understand the up-and-down monthly saw-tooth raw price pattern is largely an illusion.)

After 24 months of this level but bumpy ride, December’s raw median price came in low, as expected. Many thought that January would probably bounce back up. And when January’s price came in flat, many believed that February would definitely bounce back up.

But February’s raw number came in lower, dropping below the $600,000 mark.  And that was an unexpected stumble.

San Clemente’s seasonally adjusted home median price trend still remains above $600,000, but has been bent slightly downward from being previously flat.

Moving forward, what does February’s little trip-up mean for the San Clemente home real estate market? Does this little blip in the radar portend increased difficulties for local home sellers? Or will next month’s market recover from this small stumble and confidently continue toward a steady or upward destiny?

(Here’s where I get to do a little tap dance, the goal of which is to convince the reader that whatever the future holds, I saw it coming.)

So, first of all, it’s worth repeating that every neighborhood is its own market, and every property unique.  It’s folly to believe that city wide statistics apply to every home.

Second, I’ll just cut to the chase and say that it all depends on next month’s raw number. If March’s home median price comes in at or above $600,000, all is well. If it comes in lower, well, I’m just sayin’…

For more of the latest market statistics on San Clemente’s real estate market, visit my blog at SanClementeRealEstateBlog.com or MCotter.com