This chart and map track recent movements in single-family home sales in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

The chart lists sales volume and price ranges for the fourth quarter of 1991, the most recent quarterly statistics available.

The map compares house sales in the fourth quarter of 1991 with sales in the comparable quarter of 1990.

These figures show general residential real estate price trends, and should not be misconstrued to show the relative increase or decrease in value of any particular property.

At any time, there may be more sales in certain market niches -- starter homes, for example -- and this may distort price trends.

In future weeks, charts and maps listing sales volume and median home prices will appear for Harford County, Howard and Carroll counties, Baltimore and Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County.

The information for the map and chart is provided by Rufus S. Lusk & Son Inc.

The next metro-wide roundup, covering sales trends for the first quarter of 1992, will appear in the late June.