Recent Real Estate Institute of South Australia (REISA) figures showed prices in Roxby Downs were among the hardest hit in country South Australia.

In September, 2008 the average home in Roxby was selling at $428,464.

By September, 2009 that figure had dropped to $374,560 while towns such as Port Pirie and Whyalla saw solid growth.

In Port Pirie the median price rose by 5.9 per cent while Whyalla rose by 7.8 per cent.

Wallaroo recorded the highest growth in the State with a 29.8 per cent median price rise.

Port Augusta recorded the worst in the State with a drop of 13.5 per cent from $230,000 to $199,000.

Township superintendent Harry Harrison said BHP Billiton believed the price drop was a “levelling out” of the market, where prices have adjusted to more realistic figures than the “boom” prices in recent years.

Mr Harrison preferred not to estimate how many vacant houses there were in Roxby.

“There is no doubt the past year or so has been a challenging one for Roxby Downs.

“The global financial crisis certainly has had an impact on population numbers in Roxby Downs and there is some vacant housing within the town.”

Roxby Downs Council administrator Bill Boehm said the fluctuation was not unusual in Roxby Downs or mining towns in general “as it’s a supply and demand situation”.

“Anecdotally it seems that the housing market has slowed and that rental prices have fallen. … No doubt this will balance out over time.

“Overall having a balanced residential housing market with some vacancy rate in the town is important as it aids in housing affordability which is a significant cost impediment to families living and residing here.”