This year, the Coldwell Banker College HPCI also found that Miami is one of the more expensive college towns in the Atlantic Coast Conference, with home prices in 2007 averaging $638,333. Miami ranks comparably with San Diego, another college town.

According to the third annual Coldwell Banker® College Home Price Comparison Index (HPCI) finds that Muncie, Ind., home to Ball State University, ranks as the most affordable college town in the U.S., where a 2,220-foot, 4 bedroom 2 ½ bath home with a family room and two car garage1, would average $150,000. For the third straight year Palo Alto, Calif., home to Stanfοrd University, is the nation's most expensive college town where a similar home would cost $1,677,000.

The Coldwell Banker College Market HPCI examines the markets that are home to 119 Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A) schools. Additional information about the entire HPCI study, which ranked more than 300 markets across the United States and Puerto Rico in affordability for the same 2,200 square-foot subject home, is available at www.coldwellbanker.com.

"College towns like Miami remain a popular living destination - whether for first time homeowners or alumni looking for great retirement spots," says Gus Rubio, Regional Senior Vice President, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, Southeast Florida. "Miami has a population rich in diversity and offers elegant waterfront homes, condominiums, townhouses as well as traditional family living communities. School spirit draws many alumni back to Miami and for others, continuing their education, pursuing jobs, enjoying culture and following college sports make Miami ideal."

Rubio also points out that the survey can be a guide for parents interested in buying homes for their college-aged sons and daughters. "Real estate professionals have been doing this for years. Once their child is able to live off-campus, they do so in the family-owned home with classmates paying rent as roommates. Over time, the home appreciates in value and the family can keep it or sell it with the proceeds going toward the college payments," said Rubio. "And lately, parents of University of Miami students are foregoing paying room and board, preferring to own a home for their child to live in and collect rent from their roommates to apply to the mortgage."

Coldwell Banker Ties to College Football

Kevin Moen, a sales manager with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Rolling Hills Estates, Calif., scored one of the most dramatic touchdowns in college football history 25 years ago on Nov. 20, 1982. After Stanfοrd took a 20-19 lead with a field goal, leaving four seconds on the clock, Moen, then a safety for the University of California, caught the ensuing kickoff and began a wild, lateral-filled scramble that culminated with Moen eventually getting the ball back to score the winning touchdown as time ran out. Moen covered the final 25 yards by navigating through members of the Stanfοrd band, which came out onto the field to celebrate what they thought was a Cardinal win. Moen is best remembered for barreling over Stanfοrd trombone player Gary Tyrrell in the end zone as he celebrated the miraculous play. Moen will be featured on the Versus network during a 25th anniversary show on November 24 at 6 p.m. (Eastern), a week prior to when Stanfοrd and Cal renew their rivalry.

2007 Coldwell Banker College HPCI - Highlights & Interesting Facts

• More than $1.5 million separates the Eastern Indiana town of Muncie ($150,000) from the Silicon Valley community of Palo Alto ($1,677,000).
• Coincidentally, both Muncie and Palo Alto have benefited from recently renovated or newly constructed football stadiums. Ball State's renovated Scheumann Stadium features Arby's Tailgate Town, which includes live bands, giveaways and special exhibits. One-year-old, state-of-the-art Stanfοrd Stadium seats 50,000.
• Oklahoma State University and the University of Toledo entered the top 10 most affordable markets list. All 10 of the most expensive college markets repeat on the 2007 list.
• Three teams in the top 25 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) standings hail from towns in the Coldwell Banker College HPCI top 10 most expensive college markets list - Boston College, University of Southern California and University of Hawaii.
• The Mid-American Conference again ranks as the most affordable league with 2,200 square-foot, 4 bedroom, 2 ½ bath homes averaging $230,272 in its 12 markets. The PAC-10 tips the scales as the most expensive conference overall for the third straight year, with an average home price of $737,040.
• Columbus, Ohio, home to current BCS leader Ohio State, ranks 51st on the home price affordability list for studied homes with an average home price of $238,170. Gainesville, Fla., home to the defending BCS champion

University of Florida Gators, is rated 79th at $305,750.

(Click HERE for detailed charts for each conference).

Methodology - 2007 Coldwell Banker® College Market Home Price Comparison Index:
Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC conducted its College Home Price Comparison Index study by compiling survey data from Coldwell Banker® offices throughout the United States. Companies within the Coldwell Banker system submitted data based on the average sales price of sold listings in 2007 or a comparative market analysis of homes previously sold. Because no Coldwell Banker offices serve Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Stillwater, Okla.; Lincoln, Neb.; Charlottesville, Va.; and Morgantown, W. Va., Bowling Green, Ohio; Athens, Ohio; Laramie, Wyo.; Troy, Ala.; and Ames, Iowa, the average prices reflected in the study were from local Multiple Listing Service data collected on Oct. 2, 2007. The criteria for the College HPCI1 subject home is: single-family dwelling, 2,200 square feet (approximately), four bedrooms, two and one-half baths, family room (or equivalent) and two-car garage in neighborhoods/zip codes within a market that is typical for corporate middle-management transferees.