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The Arnolds' home in Princeton has tumbled in value.

PRINCETON — Collin County's real estate market is fighting to stay steady.

Even with home sale values up year-to-year, new statistics show that 27 percent of homes are losing value.

More than 3,000 homes in Collin County saw double-digit losses, including those built in brand-new subdivisions.

Some people who have recently moved in already want out.

The Arnolds' piece of the American dream is being chipped away by the shanky economy. Since moving to a rural neighborhood in Princeton two years ago, their property value has dropped.

They bought their house for $118,000; it's now worth only $95,427.

"I mean, the loss has doubled in two years," Jeff Arnold lamented.

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Shannon Arnold said plans for a bigger family are being stymied by the housing slowdown.

"So we're paying for it more than what it's worth," added his wife, Shannon.

The situation is slowing down their plans to move and upgrade in a few years. They've now even stopped talking about having more children.

"We can't grow with our family because this is a smaller house," Shannon Arnold said, "so we have to wait."

The situation is especially tough in Princeton. Nearly one in five homes in the Princeton Place subdivision posted for foreclosure last year.

That makes it difficult for Brandi Harvey to sell her house, which has dropped in value 12 percent. Still, she's not dropping her asking price — not yet, anyway.

"It's very frustrating, because you know what your house is worth and you know what you've put into it," she said.

Down the highway, in Princeton Meadows, abandoned home and overgrown lots dot the neighborhood.

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Tonya Jones says the abandoned house across the street is contributing to her own eroding property value.

"We were hoping a lot of these places would fill in a lot more," said homeowner Heath Henry.

Neighbor Tonya Jones isn't even finished moving in, and she already wants out. But that's almost impossible now that her home's value has dropped nearly $20,000, thanks — in part — to the rotting home across the street.

"I anticipated growth, and thought this would be a good investment property," she said. "Now, I'm just hoping to hang on to it to make it through the bad times."

Jones, like many other homeowners, now feel stuck — hoping that the downhill slide of the housing market will eventually stop.

E-mail jbetz@wfaa.com