San Diego’s housing market slowed in the second half of 2013, but still ended the year with some of the nation’s best price appreciation.

The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index showed Tuesday that from December 2012 to December 2013, home values in San Diego rose 18 percent, fifth best on the 20-city index. It was the metropolitan area’s best price appreciation since 2004, when values rose 26.6 percent. This year, annual gains peaked in August at 21.5 percent.

The Case-Shiller index, which compares repeat sales of single-family homes, showed San Diego’s price gains slowing toward the end of 2013, with prices declining 0.4 percent from November to December. It was the first monthly drop in the area’s values since January 2013.

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