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Here's something I ran across yesterday: a home in Marin listed for its previous sale price from 2002: http://tinyurl.com/d8p6l I've never seen this before.
Searching MLS, I'm noticing many homes being listed this past week.
Isn't that a bit late for the season? I'm going to record these stats, and post any trends I see.
After rising rather steadily for the 1.5 mos I've been tracking, inventory in Santa Clara County took a decent hit in the past week...bringing it back to the level of ~1.5 mos ago (note there's a good chance that I started tracking too late to see an earlier run-up in inventory). I'm not tracking "sale pendings", so I don't know if this decrease is because they all suddenly sold, or if a lot of them were taken off market due to sellers' refusal to compromise on price. This drop in inventory shows up in both mlslistings.com and ziprealty.com.
Anyone else see this?
And here is an odd contrast:
From another source, I'm tracking properties in South San Jose only...and this continues to show a fairly rapid rise in inventory...up 20% in just under 2 mos. Total number of properties is ~660 (to give an idea of the sample size).
Keep in mind everyone that there will probably not be a huge inventory increase anymore until after the holidays. This is not traditionally the big time of year for real estate in general….
Yes, that's true...however, the rising inventory is what makes this fall season "different". As far as I've been able to tell, decreasing sale prices throughout the Fall is seasonally normal...along with dropping inventory. So, I've been been looking at the anomalous rising fall inventory as a sign that this Spring might be "different"...perhaps continued falling prices, as opposed to the seasonal norm of rising prices. To my thinking, the more the inventory rises right now (at a time when it normally falls), the more potential there is for a "different" Spring season. That's my point of view, and reason for interest in current inventory levels & trends.
the more potential there is for a “different†Spring season.
My bet is that in 2006, it’s going to be even higher numbers.
With all the Fall inventory around here, and few sales*, I also suspect a "Spring Surprise", because I'm hearing people expecting things to pick up again after winter.
*not to mention all those houses listed in June/July and still no takers.
Quoted from your link, Mr.Wrong:
Hale also wants Mr. Right to be adventurous, kind, physically fit, and generous.
Maybe it's time for you to become Mr.Right again.
It's interesting how much the anecdotal information suggests a major (dare I say 'paradigm' shift) is underway in the market right now, and yet the official numbers (CAR, NAR, etc.) barely reflect this movement at all. Statewide inventory & time on market is definitely up somewhat yoy, but nowhere near as high as the local buzz might suggest.
I have to wonder if 'someone' (*cough*) isn't fudging the numbers just a tad. As in, buyer cash rebates and other concessions that conveniently don't get included in the final sales report; homes that don't sell, which get pulled and then relisted as "new" listings, etc.
Really, Mr. Wrong!
Your cool exterior conceals a devilish streak, I see... :twisted:
I have to wonder if ’someone’ (*cough*) isn’t fudging the numbers just a tad. As in, buyer cash rebates and other concessions that conveniently don’t get included in the final sales report; homes that don’t sell, which get pulled and then relisted as “new†listings, etc.
I'm waiting for the November and December DataQuick numbers, which should reflect sales under contract in (primarily) September & October, before I seriously question the published data. Based on anecdotes, etc., these numbers should show a marked shift, IMO.
Regarding cash rebates, incentives, etc., it's too bad they aren't reflected in the sale price. Just another aspect of the market that keeps things "sticky" on the way down.
Phoenix housing "For Sale" signs are starting to go up all over the place, way more than normal.
Something's definitely cooking.
"RE bride & House …funny stuff!!"
I wonder if prospective buyers get to do a full-on test drive before they sign a contract.
I've been keeping tabs on the Santa Cruz housing market for at least 5 years (almost bought a place, but came to my senses after realizing I did not want a $800k fixer). I still follow the mls for sport.
Here's a mysterious thing that may be easily explained: There has been a slow decline in inventory (130 properties to 108) in the last 3 months, but the same ugly, freeway huggers/earthquake liquifaction-forest fire zone houses are still on the mls (when doing a search for sfh 3/2 on 6500sft property or larger). They are not moving one bit, and most of them are sticking to their original list price -- no reductions. My guess is that the houses that are not crappy are selling immediately (probably on the days I don't check) and so get punted to the sale pending category that I don't really follow.
The 2 price reductions I've seen: 1.The husband-wife realtor team that we almost used on the ill fated purchase are now selling their home in Aptos. It was originally listed at $849k and after 2 weeks they dropped it to $799k. It is a cute place, nicely fixed up but it does not seem to be moving. Houses in this neighborhood have appreciated 40% in the last 3 years. I think they will be lucky to get $720k if they sell it before rates go up.
2. A property in Santa Cruz Gardens (which was once a working person's neighborhood, but the prices have gone nuts) was on the market for about a year. I think it was initially listed at 1.2M and it is now in sale pending at $999k. It is a huge '60's monster house with interior space like a warren (6bd/3ba). I think it has been in escrow once before.
So, anecdotally, Santa Cruz seems to be holding steady on inventory for single family homes, but they are the same tired, boring homes from August. Ah, if only we could have a serious deflation in Santa Cruz.
I see posts on the board whining about Boomers. Here in Santa Cruz, we also whine about Valley-ite speculators who keep driving up our prices. :-)
"You moderate me? You moderate *ME*?!?!?"
Huh? You were moderated, prat? Or are you joking on the previous thread?
Apparently, Moderation is Prime lately. (Wish I knew how to do that little trademark thingy Peter P does so i could steal his jokes better.)
I've got a brilliantly idiotic post just staring me in the face saying:
"Your comment is awaiting moderation."
_shrug_
Ah, well. Probably better for the cumulative IQ that it goes into the memory hole.
Cheers,
prat
Prat, not sure who needs to moderate you but I have not seen anything in the 'thread originator' email stream.
Ok, thanks SQT, I found it buried in there. Prat, your post is now in the wild.
Here are a few in the 95033 zip code
TERRACE GROVE, 599K to 550K, has been there forever...
TREEHOUSE WY, came out at 650K, now down to 559K, no takers, this one has been sitting around for at least 4 months
COMANCHE TL, listed for 749K when it first came out, sat for a month without moving, now down to 699K, still not moving for the last month
SOUTHVIEW AV, came out for above 700K (can't remember how much), now down to 659K, still not moving
MILLER CUTOFF ROAD, initially at 1.05M, now down to 995K, a long sitter for more than 3 months
GREENWOOD DR, came out in August, listed for 1.3M, now down to 1.2M, not moving
MOUNTAIN CHARLIE ROAD, came out in late summer at 1.23M, no takers for a while, now down to 1.18M
KNUTH ROAD, 1.195M down to 1.175M, still no takers for a few months
HELEN WY, 1.199M down to 1.139M, still sitting
SUMMIT ROAD, started at 1.65M, now dropped to 1.6M, still way to go IMHO.
OLD SANTA CRUZ, originally 1.299M, now pending at 1.295M
SUMMIT ROAD, 1.549M, now pending at 1.489M
SUMMIT ROAD, 2.6M down to 2.4M, still sitting
There were about 7 properties that dropped and sold.
Owneroccupier, there are a few properties (don't have time to look up the specific addresses but I think one is the Knuth road one) in that area in the 1 million range that I have seen on realtor.com since last December! That's a lot of sitting for that area. They look nice from the photos so I keep wondering what is wrong with them. Will try to look up specifics later when I have time.
Summit Road, Old Santa Cruz HWY
Roads that cut across San Andreas fault--there was a huge crack down Summit rd after the last big quake.
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In the process of deciding whether to buy my house or not, I've spoken with 3 fairly neutral realtors on the Bay Area market. Sure seems like the first raindrops before an inevitable storm...or could it be a brief shower?
Realtor #1: "There is no doubt that there has been a shift in the market, most noticably even in the past 2 weeks. We are seeing 'retours'. That is, having to do multiple realtor-only showings. This is needed because houses are on the market so much longer than before. We've never had these before. Ditto on price reductions. Consumer confidence has dipped and rates are going up. People are cashing out and moving out".
Realtor #2: "We have not had any Coastside (around Half Moon Bay) property under $700k. Now we're seeing plenty. One property listed at $750k and sold for $650k...but the buyer fell through. Now it's listed for $599k."
Realtor #3: "Even very nice houses in Menlo Park are sitting on the market for a long time."
Me: driving down Alameda de las Pulgas yesterday from San Carlos to Palo Alto I saw GOBS of 'For Sale' signs. It seemed like I saw 3 at nearly every corner. And this is the slow time of year?
Colleague of mine: "I track the asking versus selling prices for the South Bay. Now I see virtually no cases where the seller is getting full asking...it is common to see 5-10% reductions. Seeing enormous amounts of Open House signs."
Folks, this stuff won't show in the news for a while...how about posting your anecdotes?
#housing