Deadzone,
I live on the coast and it went up slowly between 1997 and 2001. The real appreciation started in 2001 contrary to what you said.

As for the base year, it doesnt really matter and I dont understand why everyone is so hung up on that. if there were good comparables starting then I would use them, unfortunately most of the nice homes around here were built starting in 1998 and didnt begin hitting the resale market in earnest until 2001.