ATLANTA -- Mixed signals are going out to customers in Metro Atlanta's housing market.

Home prices in the metro area have taken a nosedive, off more than 17 percent since last year, marking one of the biggest price drops in the nation.

However, some communities in surrounding areas have shown some growth in home prices.

In Southwest Atlanta, one of the hardest-hit areas, the situation is tied to foreclosures, sales of distressed properties and the upkeep of vacant homes.

"The driving force is definitely the way the banks are pricing the foreclosed properties that they list for sale," said Jean-Claude Martin, a broker with Palmer House Properties. "Everybody else suffers. Everybody else suffers."

To celebrate Emory's 175th anniversary, Emory Report brings you a look at little-known facts about the university. 

The Candler Mansion on Emory's Briarcliff campus is a beautiful yet eerie estate. Built in 1920 by Asa "Buddy" Candler, Jr., the second son of the founder of Coca-Cola, the 42 acre property once housed wild animals including four elephants: Coca, Cola, Refreshing and Delicious. In the 1960s, the mansion was turned into a mental health institute.

ATLANTA -- Metro Atlanta's foreclosure rate slowed by the middle of 2011, but remains among the metros with the highest rates.

Atlanta had 44,1560 foreclosure filings from January through June, down about 16 percent from the first half of 2010. This gave Atlanta the 16th highest rate of foreclosures, according to RealtyTrac, which publishes the largest list of foreclosures in the country.

The company defines a foreclosure as default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions.