Looking at December 2009 numbers in 27 major U.S. metro areas for its monthly Housing Index, ZipRealty reported a significant drop in homes for sale from the prior month.

Compared with November 2009, there were 4.8 percent fewer homes listed for sale, with actual totals going from 579,413 in November to 551,447 in December; the year over year drop was 26.3 percent.  This was also the 18th consecutive monthly drop in listings, and the most serious drop of all 18.

U.S. cities whose drops were most significant include Boston at 13.3 percent drop, San Francisco Bay area at 12.1 percent, Denver at 9.2 percent and Minneapolis/St.Paul at 9 percent. Though the jumps were small, two markets increased their listings – Phoenix, up 1.8 percent; and Sacramento, up .01 percent. 
 
 “Seasonality and the heavy activity by first-time homebuyers in October and November, who were rushing to take advantage of the tax credit, impacted housing inventory in December,” said ZipRealty president and CEO Patrick Lashinsky, in the announcement.