You can check out today's story about how home sales and prices fared in the Baltimore metro area last month, or you can chew on these stats -- or, better yet, both:

4 percent: The drop in average sale prices between March 2009 and March 2010

17 percent: The increase in the number of homes sold, year over year

1,808: Homes sold last month

3,648: Homes sold in March 2005, pre-bust

39 percent: The increase in the number of contracts signed, year over year 

                     Also the share of homes in Baltimore City bought entirely with cash

12 percent: The all-cash share in the 'burbs

4/30: The deadline to sign a contract to qualify for the $8,000 first-time buyer tax credit or the $6,500 repeat-buyer credit

Here's where to find more data from Metropolitan Regional Information Systems. What numbers interest you?