C.A.R article on Home sales in California.

I just found this today and it’s a great article breaking down the home prices and the supply in different areas in California. You can see where things are picking up and where its still slow moving. Hope this helps you! Don’t forget you can look at homes for sale through my website- www.deannaforhomes.com

 

C.A.R. reports sales increased 18.1 percent; median home price fell 35.3 percent in May

LOS ANGELES (June 25) – Home sales increased 18.1 percent in May in California compared with the same period a year ago, while the median price of an existing home fell 35.3 percent, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today.

“Home sales exceeded 400,000 last month for the first time since early 2007. While this is a welcome sign for the market, it was due in part to the large share of distressed homes for sale in many parts of the state,” said C.A.R. President William E. Brown. “Sales also rose above their year ago levels for the second month in a row after 30 consecutive months of year-to-year decreases. The lower prices associated with distressed sales along with favorable interest rates both contributed to higher sales levels.”

Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled 423,700 in May at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations statewide. Statewide home resale activity increased 18.1 percent from the revised 358,640 sales pace recorded in May 2007.

The statewide sales figure represents what the total number of homes sold during 2008 would be if sales maintained the May pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.

The median price of an existing, single-family detached home in California during May 2008 was $384,840, a 35.3 percent decrease from the revised $594,530 median for May 2007, C.A.R. reported. The May 2008 median price fell 4.7 percent compared with April’s $403,870 median price.

“The statewide median price declined 35.3 percent to $384,840 in May, a record for year-to-year percentage decreases in the median, reflecting the effect of large numbers of short sales and foreclosures in the market,” said C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. “With the statewide median in the $585,000- to $595,000-range through August of last year, we expect the market to continue to experience large year-to-year adjustments through the summer, even if the median price holds steady over the next few months.”

Highlights of C.A.R.’s resale housing figures for May 2008:

. C.A.R.’s Unsold Inventory Index for existing, single-family detached homes in May 2008 was 8.4 months, compared with 10.7 months (revised) for the same period a year ago. The index indicates the number of months needed to deplete the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate.

. Thirty-year fixed-mortgage interest rates averaged 6.04 percent during May 2008, compared with 6.26 percent in May 2007, according to Freddie Mac. Adjustable-mortgage interest rates averaged 5.24 percent in May 2008, compared with 5.52 percent in May 2007.

. The median number of days it took to sell a single-family home was 49.7 days in May 2008, compared with 50.8 for the same period a year ago.

Regional MLS sales and price information is contained in the tables that accompany this press release. Regional sales data are not adjusted to account for seasonal factors that can influence home sales. The MLS median price and sales data for detached homes are generated from a survey of more than 90 associations of REALTORS® throughout the state. MLS median price and sales data for condominiums are based on a survey of more than 60 associations. The median price for both detached homes and condominiums represents closed escrow sales.

In a separate report covering more localized statistics generated by C.A.R. and DataQuick Information Systems, 4.1 percent, or 15 out of 369 cities and communities, showed an increase in their respective median home prices from a year ago. DataQuick statistics are based on county records data rather than MLS information. DataQuick Information Systems is a subsidiary of Vancouver-based MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates. (The top 10 lists are generated for incorporated cities with a minimum of 30 recorded sales in the month.)

Note: Large changes in local median home prices typically indicate both local home price appreciation, and often, large shifts in the composition of housing market activity. Some of the variations in median home prices for May may be exaggerated due to compositional changes in housing demand. The DataQuick tables listing median home prices in California cities and counties are accessible through C.A.R. Online at http://www.car.org/index.php?id=Mzg1Mjg.

 

. Statewide, the 10 cities with the highest median home prices in California during May 2008 were: Los Altos, $1,710,000; Burlingame, $1,700,500; Saratoga, $1,506,500; Mill Valley, $1,475,000; Los Gatos, $1,350,000; Newport Beach, $1,250,000; Cupertino, $1,172,500; Santa Barbara, $1,066,000; Rancho Palos Verdes, $950,000; San Carlos, $900,000.

. Statewide, the 10 cities with the greatest median home price increases in May 2008 compared with the same period a year ago were: Sonoma, 61 percent; Cupertino, 16.7 percent; Mill Valley, 14.6 percent; Los Gatos, 10.2 percent; Sunnyvale, 4.7 percent; Fullerton, 3 percent; Burlingame, 2.1 percent; Santa Barbara, 2 percent; Los Altos, 1.8 percent; Folsom, 0.5 percent.

Leading the way…® in California real estate for more than 100 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States, with nearly 175,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.

 

May 2008 Regional Sales and Price Activity*
Regional and Condo Sales Data Not Seasonally Adjusted

May-08

Median Price

Percent Change in Price from Prior Month

Percent Change in Price from Prior Year

Percent Change in Sales from Prior Month

Percent Change in Sales from Prior Year

 

May-08

Apr-08

 

May-07

 

Apr-08

May-07

Statewide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calif. (sf)

$384,840

-4.7%

 

-35.3%

 

15.5%

18.1%

Calif. (condo)

$357,970

-1.8%

 

-19.8%

 

10.5%

-20.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Region

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Central Valley

NA

NA

 

NA

 

NA

NA

High Desert

$200,740

-4.8%

 

-36.0%

 

31.5%

65.4%

Los Angeles

$422,160

-3.1%

 

-29.2%

 

21.3%

9.9%

Monterey Region

$444,740

-10.2%

 

-40.1%

 

3.9%

10.0%

Monterey County

$358,000

-10.5%

 

-48.5%

 

0.0%

39.3%

Santa Cruz County

$617,500

-8.5%

 

-20.7%

 

10.6%

-17.2%

Northern California

$337,870

-2.4%

 

-12.4%

 

-3.4%

-17.6%

Northern Wine Country

$442,270

-2.6%

 

-27.5%

 

12.8%

0.0%

Orange County

$523,890

-9.4%

 

-26.6%

 

29.6%

24.5%

Palm Springs/Lower Desert

$283,480

-6.8%

 

-27.7%

 

3.9%

13.7%

Riverside/San Bernardino

$257,660

-7.6%

 

-34.9%

 

35.2%

78.9%

Sacramento

$233,230

-1.1%

 

-34.5%

 

14.0%

76.0%

San Diego

$446,610

0.7%

 

-27.1%

 

-22.2%

-22.3%

San Francisco Bay

$686,810

-0.7%

 

-19.5%

 

19.5%

-8.6%

San Luis Obispo

$442,310

-1.7%

 

-23.7%

 

-1.6%

7.1%

Santa Barbara County

$400,000

-24.2%

 

-55.4%

 

4.9%

23.2%

Santa Barbara South Coast

$1,199,000

6.6%

 

-10.9%

 

-7.9%

-16.7%

North Santa Barbara County

$297,820

-1.3%

 

-32.8%

 

17.6%

85.2%

Santa Clara

$769,650

2.3%

 

-10.0%

 

31.4%

-13.3%

Ventura

$487,790

-1.8%

 

-30.3%

 

-7.2%

-12.7%


na – not available

*Based on closed escrow sales of single‑family, detached homes only (no condos).  Reported month‑to‑month changes in sales activity in May overstate actual changes because of the small size of individual regional samples. Movements in sales prices should not be interpreted as measuring changes in the cost of a standard home.  Prices are influenced by changes in cost and changes in the characteristics and size of homes actually sold.

sf = single‑family, detached home

Source:  CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® 

Median Prices By Region – Current Month vs. Year Ago

 

May-08

Apr-08

 

May-07

 

Statewide

 

 

 

 

 

Calif.(sf)

$384,840

$403,870

 

$594,530

r

Calif.(condo)

$357,970

$364,640

 

$446,070

r

 

 

 

 

 

 

Region

 

 

 

 

 

Central Valley

NA

NA

 

$331,580

 

High Desert

$200,740

$210,860

 

$313,550

 

Los Angeles

$422,160

$435,500

 

$596,690

r

Monterey Region

$444,740

$495,240

 

$742,040

r

Monterey County

$358,000

$399,900

 

$695,000

 

Santa Cruz County

$617,500

$675,000

 

$779,000

 

Northern California

$337,870

$346,260

 

$385,870

 

Northern Wine Country

$442,270

$454,210

 

$610,220

 

Orange County

$523,890

$578,010

 

$714,130

 

Palm Springs/Lower Desert

$283,480

$304,020

 

$392,200

 

Riverside/San Bernardino

$257,660

$278,800

 

$396,010

r

Sacramento

$233,230

$235,940

 

$356,100

 

San Diego

$446,610

$443,520

 

$612,370

 

San Francisco Bay

$686,810

$691,930

 

$852,710

r

San Luis Obispo

$442,310

$450,000

 

$579,540

r

Santa Barbara County

$400,000

$527,780

 

$897,730

r

Santa Barbara South Coast

$1,199,000

$1,125,000

r

$1,345,500

 

North Santa Barbara County

$297,820

$301,850

 

$442,860

 

Santa Clara

$769,650

$752,500

 

$855,000

r

Ventura

$487,790

$496,530

 

$699,480

 

 

na – not available

r – revised

Source: CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®