Selling

POLISHED *Market Update*

Blog, Buying, Community News, Dunham Stewart, Market Minutes, Market Updates, Real Estate News, Real Estate Tips, Selling   |   Dunham Stewart

We are now seeing record high selling prices for homes in many markets of California and the nation.

The sky high home values that seemed unbelievable back in 2007 have now been eclipsed in many of the larger markets of the state. The markets in the Bay Area now boast the highest values and record fast sell times.

 

Demand Conditions

  • Employment is strong throughout the state. In all coastal counties, the unemployment rate is now at the full employment level, meaning that job opportunities are relatively abundant and wages are rising.
  • The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 3.83% this week — significantly below the 5% to 6% range during the 2005 to 2007 “bubble” years.
  • In fear of facing higher interest rates because of overt statements by the Federal Reserve to push rates higher in a measured fashion, demand for mortgages has increased.
  • Because consumer confidence in March was at its highest level since 2000, people in general are feeling very confident about their employment prospects, their future income prospects, and the stability of the economy right now.
  • The financial market composite indices are at or near all time record highs. Households owning financial assets are feeling more wealthy today than during the previous 10 years.

Click HERE for the full article.

April Market Update

Blog, Buying, Community News, Dunham Stewart, Market Updates, Real Estate News, Real Estate Tips, Selling, South Bay Living, Uncategorized   |   Dunham Stewart

Here in the Beach Cities, spring is in full bloom and there are signs of it all around us.

In real estate markets near and far, growth is abundant and it looks like it will continue that way for at least a bit!

According to National Mortgage Professional Magazine, “… Sky-high potential price gains may be finally prompting more homeowners to sell.” This is fantastic news for sellers and buyers alike. Movement increases inventory. Inventory increases a buyers choices. We all like choices! The unique and distinctive properties available on the market right now are not to be missed!

Read more by clicking HERE!

New Market Update: Polished

Blog, Dunham Stewart, Market Updates, Real Estate Tips, Selling, Uncategorized   |   Dunham Stewart

Announcing our new monthly newsletter: Polished. Click HERE for a ton of information, including a 2017 National Housing Forecast.

Beach Cities: 2016 New Construction Summary & New Home Pipeline for 2017-2018

Blog, Community News, Dunham Stewart, Hermosa Beach, Hermosa Beach News, Manhattan Beach, Manhattan Beach News, Market Minutes, Market Updates, Real Estate News, Real Estate Tips, Redondo Beach, Selling, Uncategorized   |   Dunham Stewart

Happy New Year!

I wanted to share with you the latest information of the South Bay new home sales from 2016. Also, see what 2017-2018 holds for new home pipeline.

 

Housing Market Update – November 2016

Blog, Buying, Community News, Dunham Stewart, Market Updates, Real Estate News, Selling   |   Dunham Stewart

After falling to the lowest level in 50 years, the U.S. homeownership rate bounced up slightly in the third quarter of this year. Corelogic reports that the amount of equity homeowners now have has doubled in the last five years sales.

For the full article & market report, click HERE!

Housing Market Update Pic1

Housing Market Update – October 2016

Blog, Buying, Community News, Dunham Stewart, Market Updates, Real Estate News, Real Estate Tips, Selling, Uncategorized   |   Dunham Stewart

“Existing-home sales rebounded strongly in September and were propelled by sales from first-time buyers reaching a 34 percent share, which is a high not seen in over four years, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All major regions saw an increase in closings last month, and distressed sales fell to a new low of 4 percent of the market.”

Click HERE for complete article, plus inside market info!

Housing Market Update Pic1

 

South Bay Vision – Market Update

Blog, Buying, Market Minutes, Market Updates, Real Estate News, Selling   |   Dunham Stewart
The California Association of Realtors released their report on California existing home sales and median prices in July. The statewide median price rose over the 12 months ending in July by 7.1% to $464,750. Although June marked the end of the 23 months of double-digit prices increases, the median single-family home price in California has now risen on a year-over-year basis for 29 months.

“Home prices continued to march higher across much of the U.S. in July. Most states are reaching price levels not seen since the boom year of 2006,” said Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic. “Our data indicates that this trend will continue, with more states hitting new all-time peaks this year and into 2015 as the recovery continues.”

Please enjoy. Should your plans include real estate purchase and sales, please call or email with questions – and as always, thanks for your referrals!

Sources:

*LAEDC / Volume 18 N. 34

** HousingWire / Trey Garrison CoreLogic 9-2-14

For full source information, click >HERE<

South Bay Vision – Market Update

Blog, Buying, Market Minutes, Market Updates, Real Estate News, Selling   |   Dunham Stewart
According to the latest TrendGraphix reports for the beach cities for the period May 13th – July 13th compared to the same period last year you will see the number of properties for sale increased in Hermosa, Redondo and El Segundo however decreased slightly in Manhattan Beach. Although months of inventory have increased since the same time last year, we’re looking at approximately 1.9 months of available inventory for most of the beach cities including El Segundo.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says the housing market is stabilizing, but ongoing challenges are impeding full sales potential. “Activity is notably higher than earlier this year as proces have moderated and inventory levels have improved,” he said. “However, supply shortages still exist in parts of the country, wages are flat, and tight credit conditions are deterring a higher number of potential buyers from fully taking advantage of lower interest rates.”

Pending home sales in the West inched 0.2 percent in June to 95.7, but remains 16.7 percent below June 2013.

Please enjoy. Should your plans include real estate purchase and sales, please call or email with questions – and as always, thanks for your referrals!

* Sources: TrendGraphics, C.A.R.

Has the Real Estate Market Peaked

Blog, Buying, Real Estate News, Real Estate Tips, Selling   |   Dunham Stewart
One of the oddest things about this current housing market is the dwindling amount of supply.  For areas like Los Angeles and nationwide, total housing supply has been on a downward trajectory since 2010.  While an environment of rising home prices, less supply, and hungry buyers would lead you to believe that more home building would be occurring, not much of that has actually happened.Though the housing market is recovering nicely, it is not doing quite as well as some analysts had predicted. There has been no shortage of excuses offered as to why this is: the rise in interest rates, more stringent lending standards, the weather. However, we feel that there is one factor that is most responsible for curtailing the number of houses sold – the number of houses available for sale!

Inventory Levels are BELOW Historic Norms

In a recent economic forecast, Freddie Mac addressed this exact issue: “Including newly built homes in the inventory count, the total number of homes offered for sale relative to the number of households in the U.S. has been running at the lowest level in more than 30 years, as shown in the second exhibit. The relatively low for-sale inventory reflects several features of today’s market.” “A supply-constrained market (holding other factors constant) will result in a decline in the volume of sales and an increase in real transaction prices.”

NAR Report Confirms Inventory Constriction

History shows us that a balanced real estate market requires a six month supply of available housing inventory. The National Association of Realtors released their Existing Homes Sales Report last month. The report revealed that we are still only at a 5.5 month supply of homes for sale. We have not reached the 6 month mark in over two years. The recent increase in buyers now looking will again put a strain on this number. .

Bottom Line

While inventory levels remain below historic norms, it will remain a seller’s market. This being the case, if you are considering selling your home, now may be the time to list it for sale.

Los Angeles Real Estate Surging

Blog, Market Updates, Selling   |   Dunham Stewart
There is very little doubt that the real estate market is on much firmer ground that it was five years ago. Along the California coast, it’s not merely challenging to find reasonably priced real estate – it’s nearly impossible. Home values are rapidly rising and a confluence of factors will likely continue to drive the market even higher. Pent-up demand, job growth and still-slow mortgage rates continue to put pressure on home prices. The median price of a home in Los Angeles County rose by 5.9 percent in June, compared with the same month a year ago, while the number of homes sold dipped by 7.5 percent, a real estate information service announced today. According to DataQuick, the median price of a Los Angeles County home was $450,000 last month, up from $425,000 in June 2013. A total of 6,792 homes were sold in the county, down from 7,342 during the same month the previous year. In many markets price appreciation has slipped into the more sustainable single-digit range, compared with gains exceeding 20 percent this time last year. Home values are rrising and a confluence of factors will likely continue to drive the market even higher. Consider the following:

  • Prop 13 – A voter initiative passed in 1978 amid an anti-tax revolt, it caps California property tax rates at 1.25% and freezes assessed property values at the original purchase price. While no one likes higher taxes, the measure artificially constrains inventory and make prices soar because it offers older homeowners a remarkable disincentive to sell.
  • Greater investment property ownership – Investors flooded the middle market after real estate hit bottom during the financial crisis, gobbling up foreclosures and short sales at bargain basement prices and converting them into rentals – further squeezing what little affordable inventory exists within these markets.
  • Lack of available land – In the most desirable neighborhoods within Los Angeles land is scarce. And when there is development in such neighborhoods, it often involves tearing down a $1 million home and replacing it with one that is three times more expensive.
  • Foreign buyers inflating prices – From locating a property to negotiating price to going through each exhaustive step of the mortgage process, buying a home often takes months. But for wealthy foreign buyers seeking the safe haven of US-based hard assets, and making all-cash offers to sweeten their deals, it only takes weeks.  And by frequently going above market prices in their offers, foreign buyers have helped drive up the price for everyone else.
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