MAUMELLE, Ark. (KTHV) - If you are looking for a new home, now could be the time to buy. But declining home values in Arkansas aren't good news for everyone.

According to CoreLogic, average home prices are up across the country. They're 7.4 percent higher compared to prices last summer. But in Arkansas, home prices have gone down by 2 percent.

"There's not one thing in particular to pinpoint, just a lot of people decide to sell at the same time," said broker Kim Burkes.

In 2014, 269 more homes were listed than in 2013, but the average sale price has gone down from $192,624 to $184,070, according to the Cooperative Arkansas Realtors Multiple Listing Service.

"Some of those may be foreclosures and short sales which brings the general price down," Burkes said.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (ASTA) – The National Science Foundation has awarded the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority's ASSET Initiative a $3 million dollar grant to research stress factors on plants. The money is part of a $6 million dollar multi-state award with Missouri.

The funds will be spread out over 3 years and will be used to create an interdisciplinary, state-of-the-art Bioimaging Consortium that will enable researchers to adapt food, fiber, and fuel crops to meet the challenges of a changing climate and a growing world population.

On Tuesday, July 29, the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce will host the annual White County Business EXPO on the Harding University Campus in the Ganus Center located just off of East Beebe Capps in Searcy.  

The event will open to the public from Noon until 4:00 p.m. and admission is FREE.  It’s a great opportunity for attendees to find out about the products and services in our area, sample many of the local restaurants fare, win one of our fabulous door prizes and meet local business owners, state officials and candidates.  The Grand Prize Drawing will be held at 3:00 p.m.

Contact the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce at 501-268-2458 or visit their website at www.searcychamber.com for more information.