C.A.R. reports sales increased 117.1 percent in October

C.A.R. reports sales increased 117.1 percent in October

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For release:
Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008

C.A.R. reports sales increased 117.1 percent; median home price fell 39.9 percent in October

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 25) – Home sales increased 117.1 percent in October in California compared with the same period a year ago, while the median price of an existing home fell 39.9 percent, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today.

“Statewide sales increased significantly in October to 552,750 homes on an annualized basis, the highest sales level since late 2005,” said C.A.R. President James Liptak. “The record gain stemmed primarily from extremely large increases in regions with a high concentration of distressed sales.

“Most October sales likely opened escrow prior to the beginning of the ongoing freeze in the financial markets. We won’t have a clear picture of the full impact of the fallout until November and December sales are reported,” Liptak added.

Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled 552,750 in October 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 117.1 percent from the revised 254,650 sales pace recorded in October 2007. Sales in October 2008 increased 9.5 percent compared with the previous month.

The statewide sales figure represents what the total number of homes sold during 2008 would be if sales maintained the October 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 October 2008 was $311,060, a 39.9 percent decrease from the revised $517,240 median for October 2007, C.A.R. reported. The October 2008 median price fell 1.9 percent compared with September’s revised $316,960 median price.

“The year-to-year decline in the statewide median home price was smaller in October than the previous month for the first time in 11 months,” said C.A.R Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. “However, there is still no conclusive indication that prices have begun to stabilize.”

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

. C.A.R.’s Unsold Inventory Index for existing, single-family detached homes in October 2008 was 5.9 months, compared with 15.2 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 6.20 percent during October 2008, compared with 6.38 percent in October 2007, according to Freddie Mac. Adjustable-mortgage interest rates averaged 5.21 percent in October 2008, compared with 5.68 percent in October 2007.

. The median number of days it took to sell a single-family home was 45 days in October 2008, compared with 58.8 days (revised) for the same period a year ago.

Regional MLS sales and price information are 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, 1.6 percent, or 6 out of 378 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 September 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/economics/historicalprices/2008medianprices/oct2008medianprices/.

. Statewide, the 10 cities with the highest median home prices in California during October 2008 were: Newport Beach, $1,150,000; Danville $883,250; Mountain View, $860,000; Santa Barbara, $835,000; Los Gatos, $810,000; Cupertino, $804,500; Santa Monica, $744,500; San Mateo, $740,000; Redondo Beach, $727,500; and San Ramon, $710,500.

. Statewide, the cities with the greatest median home price increases in October 2008 compared with the same period a year ago were: Mountain View, 18.6 percent; Alhambra 13.4 percent; Ridgecrest 6.2 percent; and Berkeley, 5.9 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 180,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.

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

	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
	Oct-08	Sep-08		Oct-07	Sep-08	Oct-07
Statewide
Calif. (sf)	$311,060	-1.9%		-39.9%	9.5%	117.1%
Calif. (condo)	$267,700	-8.4%		-36.7%	10.3%	63.3%

C.A.R. Region
Central Valley	NA	NA		NA	NA	NA
High Desert	$154,660	-3.2%		-41.8%	9.0%	269.2%
Los Angeles	$366,520	-2.6%		-32.2%	0.0%	118.9%
Monterey Region	$336,630	-3.2%		-52.7%	7.6%	144.0%
Monterey County	$285,000	1.8%		-54.0%	13.1%	275.8%
Santa Cruz County	$500,000	5.3%		-31.7%	-4.8%	25.5%
Northern California	$310,120	-3.5%		-17.0%	-4.3%	16.5%
Northern Wine Country	$369,890	0.2%		-30.6%	15.6%	95.4%
Orange County	$490,360	-1.1%		-28.6%	5.3%	108.1%
Palm Springs/Lower Desert	$206,050	3.1%		-36.3%	6.3%	115.0%
Riverside/San Bernardino	$209,990	-3.6%		-39.7%	13.5%	254.9%
Sacramento	$196,920	0.5%		-36.3%	4.1%	173.1%
San Diego	$337,640	-9.6%		-37.4%	25.0%	131.6%
San Francisco Bay	$520,920	-6.1%		-35.8%	1.0%	49.1%
San Luis Obispo	$396,430	5.7%		-27.7%	19.6%	57.3%
Santa Barbara County	$341,300	-4.0%		-54.0%	2.7%	83.5%
Santa Barbara South Coast	$860,000	-9.0%		-35.1%	-2.7%	18.0%
North Santa Barbara County	$247,580	-3.1%		-31.4%	3.5%	178.6%
Santa Clara	$549,940	-8.3%		-36.4%	-9.6%	42.2%
Ventura	$427,650	-1.0%		-34.3%	12.1%	119.5%

* Santa Barbara County and Monterey County median prices decreased significantly from Oct 07 due mainly to the high proportion of total sales from lower-priced properties in the regions.

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 June 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

	Oct-08	Sep-08		Oct-07
Statewide
Calif. (sf)	$311,060	$316,960	r	$517,240	r
Calif. (condo)	$267,700	$292,140	r	$422,620	r

C.A.R. Region
Central Valley	NA	NA		NA
High Desert	$154,660	$159,720		$265,880
Los Angeles	$366,520	$376,440	r	$540,590	r
Monterey Region	$336,630	$347,920		$711,400	r
Monterey County	$285,000	$280,000		$620,000
Santa Cruz County	$500,000	$475,000		$732,500	r
Northern California	$310,120	$321,320		$373,790
Northern Wine Country	$369,890	$369,180		$532,900	r
Orange County	$490,360	$496,010	r	$686,700	r
Palm Springs/Lower Desert	$206,050	$199,810		$323,440
Riverside/San Bernardino	$209,990	$217,730		$348,010	r
Sacramento	$196,920	$195,900		$309,360
San Diego	$337,640	$373,620		$539,060
San Francisco Bay	$520,920	$554,730		$811,200	r
San Luis Obispo	$396,430	$375,000		$548,610
Santa Barbara County	$341,300	$355,560		$742,190
Santa Barbara South Coast	$860,000	$945,000	r	$1,325,000
North Santa Barbara County	$247,580	$255,440		$360,870
Santa Clara	$549,940	$600,000		$865,000	r
Ventura	$427,650	$431,770		$650,570

na - not available

r - revised

Source: CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

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