Home prices in many areas of the U.S. have skyrocketed.  A lot of homeowners are finding themselves sitting on houses that have had an enormous increase in home equity value.  These homes are becoming “piggy banks” for those wanting to use a little of that home equity.  Here are a few hot spots for home equity and where homeowners have seen the prices of their homes fly up:

• Las Vegas
• California
• Southern Florida
• Urban East Coast

A few not so hot spots where the prices of homes have dropped include:

• Southeast
• Midwest
• Southwest

Specific cities that have seen a large drop in home prices include:

• Charleston, West Virginia
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Austin, Texas