Most home sales across Southern California are slowing down. Homes across Riverside and San Bernardino counties have reported sales gains in December 2005 compared with december 2004.

Inland Empire, the area's fast-growing housing market continues to lure buyers from coastal communities looking for large homes. The median home price in Riverside County reached $411,000 in December, while the San Bernardino County median price was $361,000, according to DataQuick info. 

San Bernardino County's 28.5% price increase over the past year was the highest of the six counties in the study. Riverside home prices increased 10.8%.

San Bernardino County's median home price is about 58% of Orange County's. Riverside County homes cost 66% of what Orange County homes cost.

Orange County homes sold for more than double the price of homes in the Inland area a few years ago. Soon in 2006, home prices in Riverside and San Bernardino counties could climb to as much as 80% of those in Orange County.

Last month, 6,305 homes were sold in Riverside County, 16.5% more than a year ago. In San Bernardino County, the increase was 5.7%, to 4,580 homes.

Of the six counties in the report, Ventura's median home price was the highest, at $630,000, followed by Orange County at $621,000. The two Inland counties had the lowest prices in Southern California. There hasn't been a decline in the average price of homes across Southern California since early 1996, according to DataQuick. But Karevoll said prices are beginning to top out.

San Diego County home prices will not likely rise much longer,  Inland prices can increase throughout the next year. In addition, residents of southwest Riverside County are coping with the hot real estate market by moving to Hemet or Anza to find larger properties.