The nationwide median price for existing homes dropped again in the first quarter of 2009, but Davenport, IA, was one of a few cities that reversed the trend.  The city’s 14 percent increase in the median home price was the second largest in the nation.

The numbers, released today by the National Association of Realtors, show that about half of the sales of existing homes in the first quarter were foreclosed or distressed properties, which helped to keep nationwide prices low.  From the AP:

Home sales fell in all but six states _ Nevada, California, Arizona, Florida, Virginia and Minnesota _ where buyers have been able to snap up foreclosures at a deep discount. Sales more than doubled in Nevada, rose 81 percent in California and grew 50 percent in Arizona _ signaling that the worst may be over for those distressed states.

Still, the median sales price nationwide was $169,900, down 13.8 percent from a year ago. The median price is the midpoint, which means half of the homes sold for more and half for less.

The biggest drop, of more than 50 percent, was in Fort Myers, Fla. Prices fell 40 percent or more in Saginaw, Mich.; Akron, Ohio; San Francisco; San Jose, Calif.; Phoenix; Sarasota, Fla. and Riverside, Calif.

The biggest price gain, of more than 21 percent, was in Cumberland, Md. The only other double-digit increase was in Davenport, Iowa, which saw the median price climb nearly 14 percent.

(It is not clear from the story what led to Davenport’s unusually good home sales numbers.)