San Diego one of few metro areas to show higher home values

San Diego had the best home value improvement in 2010 out of large metro areas, according to Zillow.com.

The area's estimated year-end value for all homes was $378.5 billion, up $10.2 billion from 2009. 

At 2.8 percent, that was the biggest rise in the top 20 and 14th among all 129 markets.

While San Diego had the best upswing of the year among the biggest markets, recent sales figures indicate that prices have slid back below their recent peaks and some economists believe there will be little change next year.