TAMPA - February home prices rose nationally for the first time in three years, though the good news was tempered by downturns in several cities. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay area saw prices fall after months of stabilization, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller Metro Area Home Price Index.

Prices in the Bay area fell 6 percent, compared to February 2009, and 1.2 percent from January to February.

Even the nation's good news can't be celebrated that much, said David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee. Despite the 0.6 percent increase on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, 11 of the 20 cities in the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index showed declines.

The last time prices rose on a year-over-year basis was December 2006. But the increase was smaller than expected: Economists polled by Thomson Reuters had predicted prices to rise 1.2 percent in February.

"Beginning last November, each report showed gains as fewer cities reported year-over-year declines than in the previous month; those gains ended with this report," Blitzer said "It is too early to say that the housing market is recovering."

The index showed prices in Tampa and five other cities -- Charlotte, Las Vegas, New York, Portland and Seattle -- reached recent new lows in February.

Las Vegas saw the largest annual drop at almost 15 percent. San Francisco posted the biggest gain, at about 12 percent.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. Reporter Shannon Behnken can be reached at (813) 259-7804.