Although real estate in some parts of the country is in a slump, purchasing a home in a college town may still be a winning bet.  A recent report from BusinessWeek.com and OnBoard, a local real estate information specialist, finds that 17 of 25 top-tier college towns outperformed their respective states in home-price appreciation in 2007.  Four towns did as well as their states, and only four underperformed:  Williamsburg, VA; Chapel Hill, N.C.; New Haven, Conn.; and Seattle.

 except from, The Residential Specialist September/October 2008