Low interest rates fail to spark August home sales; home prices continue to increase despite improving housing inventory
LOS ANGELES (Sept. 16) – California home sales pulled back in August, reversing two months of increases, as the median home price rose from the previous month and year, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) said today.
Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 394,280 units in August, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations and MLSs statewide. August marked the 10th straight month that sales were below the 400,000 level and the 13th straight month that sales have declined on a year-over-year basis. Sales in August decreased 1.2 percent from 398,940 in July and were down 9.3 percent from 434,910 in August 2013. The August 2014 sales level was the second highest for the year so far. The statewide sales figure represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2014 if sales maintained the August pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.
“With more homeowners in a position to list their homes for sale following rising home prices, housing supply is improving across all price ranges as would-be sellers may be seeing this as an opportunity to list their homes for sale,” said C.A.R. President Kevin Brown. “While lower-than-expected interest rates are allowing more room for home prices to grow, the appreciation is also creating a housing affordability challenge for prospective home buyers and hindering them from taking advantage of the low rates.”
The median price of an existing, single-family detached California home rose 3.3 percent from July’s median price of $464,750 to $480,280 in August and up 8.9 percent from the revised $441,010 recorded in August 2013. The August 2014 price was the highest observed since 2007. The statewide median home price has increased year over year for the previous 30 months, marking more than two full years of consecutive year-over-year price increases. The median sales price is the point at which half of homes sold for more and half sold for less; it is influenced by the types of homes selling as well as a general change in values.
“California’s housing market continues to be bifurcated both geographically and demographically, with the San Francisco Bay Area and high-end housing markets outperforming other regions and market segments,” said C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. “A strong job market and barriers to building new housing are creating an imbalance between supply and demand in some housing markets. Buyers who are not impacted by affordability issues are fueling sales in the high-end market, which is putting upward pressure on home prices.”
Other key facts from C.A.R.’s August 2014 resale housing report include:
• Housing inventory inched up higher in August, with the available supply of existing, single-family detached homes for sale increasing from 3.8 months in August to 4 months in August. The index was a revised 3 months in August 2013. The index indicates the number of months needed to sell the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate. A six- to seven-month supply is considered typical in a normal market.
• The median number of days it took to sell a single-family home lengthened in August, up from 35.7 days in July to 39.2 days in August and up from a revised 29.3 days in August 2013.
• Mortgage rates were down for the second straight month in August, with the 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rate averaging 4.12 percent, down from 4.13 percent in July and down from 4.46 percent in August 2013, according to Freddie Mac. Adjustable-mortgage interest rates in August were also down, averaging 2.37 percent, down from 2.39 percent in July and down from 2.65 percent in August 2013.
Graphics (click links to open):
Note: The County MLS median price and sales data in the tables are generated from a survey of more than 90 associations of REALTORS® throughout the state, and represent statistics of existing single-family detached homes only. County sales data are not adjusted to account for seasonal factors that can influence home sales. Movements in sales prices should not be interpreted as changes in the cost of a standard home. The median price is where half sold for more and half sold for less; medians are more typical than average prices, which are skewed by a relatively small share of transactions at either the lower-end or the upper-end. Median prices can be influenced by changes in cost, as well as changes in the characteristics and the size of homes sold. Due to the low sales volume in some areas, median price changes August exhibit unusual fluctuation. The change in median prices should not be construed as actual price changes in specific homes.
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 165,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.
August 2014 County Sales and Price Activity(Regional and condo sales data not seasonally adjusted)
| August-14 | Median Sold Price of Existing Single-Family Homes | Sales |
| State/Region/County | Aug-14 | Jul-14 | | Aug-13 | | MTM% Chg | YTY% Chg | MTM% Chg | YTY% Chg |
| CA SFH (SAAR) | $480,280 | $464,750 | | $441,010 | r | 3.3% | 8.9% | -1.2% | -9.3% |
| CA Condo/Townhomes | $379,580 | $376,080 | | $343,080 | r | 0.9% | 10.6% | -8.8% | -15.6% |
| Los Angeles Metro Area | $434,550 | $421,050 | | $395,900 | r | 3.2% | 9.8% | -4.8% | -12.1% |
| Inland Empire | $275,240 | $275,990 | | $245,330 | | -0.3% | 12.2% | -9.1% | -15.6% |
| S.F. Bay Area | $742,900 | $760,430 | | $694,850 | r | -2.3% | 6.9% | -10.6% | -7.6% |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| S.F. Bay Area | | | | | | | | | |
| Alameda | $732,220 | $722,620 | | $654,060 | | 1.3% | 11.9% | -9.1% | -5.6% |
| Contra-Costa (Central Cty.) | $750,000 | $792,240 | | $703,240 | r | -5.3% | 6.6% | -7.6% | 3.9% |
| Marin | $977,460 | $1,029,760 | | $987,740 | | -5.1% | -1.0% | -1.4% | -7.4% |
| Napa | $541,670 | $650,000 | | $565,970 | | -16.7% | -4.3% | -27.7% | -30.8% |
| San Francisco | $900,910 | $940,620 | | $871,480 | | -4.2% | 3.4% | -8.5% | -10.0% |
| San Mateo | $1,000,000 | $1,117,500 | r | $988,440 | r | -10.5% | 1.2% | -11.3% | -3.8% |
| Santa Clara | $865,000 | $860,750 | r | $808,100 | r | 0.5% | 7.0% | -13.2% | -12.5% |
| Solano | $328,280 | $335,870 | | $295,890 | | -2.3% | 10.9% | -11.1% | -3.1% |
| Sonoma | $484,640 | $510,110 | | $453,790 | | -5.0% | 6.8% | -12.1% | -13.3% |
| Southern California | | | | | | | | | |
| Los Angeles | $474,640 | $461,290 | | $444,950 | | 2.9% | 6.7% | -5.4% | -12.5% |
| Orange County | $699,430 | $695,270 | | $664,580 | | 0.6% | 5.2% | 2.8% | -6.6% |
| Riverside County | $318,640 | $319,960 | | $290,030 | | -0.4% | 9.9% | -7.9% | -13.0% |
| San Bernardino | $209,200 | $216,570 | | $183,240 | | -3.4% | 14.2% | -11.0% | -19.5% |
| San Diego | $510,860 | $523,070 | | $482,470 | | -2.3% | 5.9% | -2.4% | -18.5% |
| Ventura | $602,060 | $585,830 | | $555,560 | | 2.8% | 8.4% | 1.9% | -5.8% |
| Central Coast | | | | | | | | | |
| Monterey | $492,500 | $445,000 | | $407,000 | | 10.7% | 21.0% | -4.4% | -3.9% |
| San Luis Obispo | $475,000 | $490,540 | | $477,420 | | -3.2% | -0.5% | -2.6% | -7.4% |
| Santa Barbara | $806,030 | $685,480 | | $625,000 | | 17.6% | 29.0% | 0.5% | -23.5% |
| Santa Cruz | $657,600 | $725,000 | | $629,000 | | -9.3% | 4.5% | -5.1% | -7.0% |
| Central Valley | | | | | | | | | |
| Fresno | $203,760 | $201,530 | | $184,000 | | 1.1% | 10.7% | -6.1% | -14.1% |
| Glenn | $170,000 | $145,000 | | $135,000 | | 17.2% | 25.9% | 0.0% | -11.1% |
| Kern (Bakersfield) | $210,900 | $210,160 | | $199,950 | r | 0.4% | 5.5% | -0.9% | 4.3% |
| Kings County | $183,330 | $175,450 | | $184,000 | | 4.5% | -0.4% | 4.3% | -16.3% |
| Madera | $166,670 | $211,110 | | $170,000 | | -21.1% | -2.0% | -27.3% | -56.8% |
| Merced | $186,670 | $173,640 | | $155,880 | | 7.5% | 19.8% | -25.2% | -2.8% |
| Placer County | $388,720 | $381,040 | | $361,830 | | 2.0% | 7.4% | -7.4% | 3.3% |
| Sacramento | $272,750 | $276,190 | | $257,660 | | -1.2% | 5.9% | -7.6% | -10.5% |
| San Benito | $415,000 | $415,000 | | $387,000 | | 0.0% | 7.2% | -12.8% | -18.0% |
| San Joaquin | $265,060 | $259,900 | | $231,390 | | 2.0% | 14.6% | -4.8% | -14.7% |
| Stanislaus | $232,240 | $230,040 | | $203,120 | | 1.0% | 14.3% | -2.6% | -15.1% |
| Tulare | $184,440 | $174,670 | | $158,460 | | 5.6% | 16.4% | -8.2% | 6.0% |
| Other Counties in California | | | | | | | | | |
| Amador | $211,110 | $247,500 | | $213,890 | r | -14.7% | -1.3% | 7.7% | -20.8% |
| Butte County | $255,000 | $276,140 | | $281,820 | | -7.7% | -9.5% | -6.5% | 4.8% |
| Calaveras | $224,000 | $239,500 | | $220,000 | | -6.5% | 1.8% | -13.0% | -22.3% |
| Del Norte | $156,200 | $165,000 | | $100,000 | | -5.3% | 56.2% | 26.3% | 60.0% |
| El Dorado County | $391,670 | $385,160 | | $355,840 | | 1.7% | 10.1% | 11.0% | -5.3% |
| Humboldt | $255,260 | $247,000 | | $247,220 | | 3.3% | 3.3% | -11.7% | -13.3% |
| Lake County | $178,330 | $174,540 | | $153,330 | | 2.2% | 16.3% | -3.8% | -12.5% |
| Tuolumne | $214,710 | $238,160 | | $215,280 | | -9.8% | -0.3% | 3.9% | 9.6% |
| Mendocino | $291,670 | $300,000 | | $276,670 | | -2.8% | 5.4% | -13.0% | -41.2% |
| Nevada | $338,500 | $308,500 | | $339,500 | | 9.7% | -0.3% | 1.0% | -1.9% |
| Plumas | $272,000 | $217,500 | | NA | | 25.1% | NA | 136.4% | NA |
| Shasta | $212,190 | $216,460 | | $202,080 | r | -2.0% | 5.0% | -12.9% | -23.4% |
| Siskiyou County | $127,500 | $160,000 | | $140,000 | | -20.3% | -8.9% | 28.9% | 6.5% |
| Sutter | $217,750 | $220,000 | | $202,000 | | -1.0% | 7.8% | -16.2% | -17.3% |
| Tehama | $156,000 | $165,000 | | $146,670 | | -5.5% | 6.4% | -40.0% | -29.4% |
| Yolo | $396,550 | $340,540 | | $320,310 | | 16.4% | 23.8% | -12.2% | -16.1% |
| Yuba | $200,000 | $183,500 | | $186,000 | | 9.0% | 7.5% | -1.4% | -11.5% |
r = revised
NA = not available
August 2014 County Unsold Inventory and Time on Market
(Regional and condo sales data not seasonally adjusted)
| August-14 | Unsold Inventory Index | Median Time on Market |
| State/Region/County | Aug-14 | Jul-14 | | Aug-13 | | Aug-14 | Jul-14 | | Aug-13 | |
| CA SFH (SAAR) | 4.0 | 3.8 | | 3.0 | r | 39.2 | 35.7 | | 29.3 | r |
| CA Condo/Townhomes | 3.5 | 3.3 | | 2.6 | | 38.0 | 36.3 | | 28.8 | r |
| Los Angeles Metro Area | 4.3 | 4.1 | | 3.1 | | 48.4 | 45.8 | | 36.7 | |
| Inland Empire | 4.8 | 4.3 | | 3.1 | | 50.0 | 48.9 | | 34.4 | r |
| S.F. Bay Area | 2.6 | 2.4 | | 2.3 | r | 37.6 | 36.0 | | 36.5 | r |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| S.F. Bay Area | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alameda | 2.2 | 2.1 | | 2.1 | | 47.3 | 48.1 | | 48.7 | |
| Contra-Costa (Central Cty.) | 2.4 | 2.3 | | 1.9 | r | 50.2 | 50.1 | | 50.0 | r |
| Marin | 2.8 | 2.7 | | 3.0 | | 40.1 | 37.3 | | 40.6 | |
| Napa | 6.7 | 4.8 | | 2.0 | | 52.8 | 54.0 | | 57.3 | |
| San Francisco | 2.9 | 2.7 | | 2.8 | | 23.5 | 23.3 | | 25.4 | |
| San Mateo | 1.9 | 1.7 | | 2.1 | | 20.8 | 19.0 | | 19.7 | |
| Santa Clara | 2.2 | 1.9 | | 2.1 | | 20.3 | 19.2 | | 19.0 | |
| Solano | 3.4 | 2.9 | | 2.7 | | 42.1 | 37.5 | | 32.1 | |
| Sonoma | 3.4 | 3.0 | | 2.9 | | 45.2 | 45.0 | | 46.8 | |
| Southern California | | | | | | | | | | |
| Los Angeles | 4.0 | 3.8 | | 2.9 | | 43.0 | 39.8 | | 31.1 | |
| Orange County | 4.0 | 4.2 | | 3.3 | | 55.0 | 53.1 | | 46.3 | |
| Riverside County | 4.8 | 4.4 | | 3.2 | | 55.2 | 52.8 | | 36.6 | |
| San Bernardino | 4.9 | 4.3 | | 3.0 | | 38.2 | 42.5 | | 29.8 | |
| San Diego | 4.5 | 4.4 | | 3.4 | | 25.7 | 24.7 | | 24.4 | |
| Ventura | 4.1 | 3.8 | | 3.2 | | 56.8 | 49.3 | | 46.9 | |
| Central Coast | | | | | | | | | | |
| Monterey | 4.4 | 4.2 | | 4.0 | | 29.2 | 27.9 | | 23.5 | |
| San Luis Obispo | 5.0 | 5.0 | | 4.4 | | 40.6 | 28.2 | | 26.7 | |
| Santa Barbara | 4.7 | 4.7 | | 3.5 | | 42.8 | 36.8 | | 38.4 | r |
| Santa Cruz | 3.2 | 3.1 | | 3.2 | | 23.4 | 24.1 | | 24.8 | |
| Central Valley | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fresno | 5.2 | 4.8 | | 3.7 | | 27.8 | 27.9 | | 23.1 | |
| Glenn | 5.5 | 6.4 | | 4.7 | | 50.3 | 50.3 | | 40.7 | |
| Kern (Bakersfield) | 3.0 | 3.0 | | 2.4 | r | 23.0 | 20.0 | | 16.0 | r |
| Kings County | 4.0 | 3.8 | | 2.9 | | 50.3 | 39.9 | | 50.3 | |
| Madera | 6.9 | 4.8 | | 2.4 | | 26.8 | 50.3 | | 25.4 | |
| Merced | 4.6 | 3.3 | | 2.9 | | 27.5 | 29.8 | | 24.2 | |
| Placer County | 3.8 | 3.6 | | 3.1 | | 27.4 | 25.5 | | 20.8 | |
| Sacramento | 3.4 | 3.2 | | 2.7 | | 23.5 | 22.0 | | 19.7 | |
| San Benito | 4.1 | 3.6 | | 2.8 | | 23.9 | 26.2 | | 22.3 | |
| San Joaquin | 3.7 | 3.3 | | 2.8 | | 24.1 | 23.2 | | 19.5 | |
| Stanislaus | 3.4 | 3.2 | | 2.4 | | 24.5 | 22.6 | | 19.6 | |
| Tulare | 4.5 | 4.1 | | 4.1 | | 37.0 | 42.0 | | 23.3 | r |
| Other Counties in California | | | | | | | | | | |
| Amador | 5.6 | 6.2 | | 3.9 | | 61.0 | 52.8 | | 53.8 | |
| Butte County | 4.4 | 4.2 | | 4.2 | | 27.5 | 29.0 | | 25.6 | |
| Calaveras | 8.4 | 6.9 | | 5.2 | | 42.0 | 39.0 | | 53.0 | |
| Del Norte | 7.4 | 9.6 | | 13.1 | | 129.0 | 116.0 | | 107.0 | |
| El Dorado County | 4.9 | 5.4 | | 4.1 | | 36.7 | 33.0 | | 36.2 | |
| Humboldt | 7.0 | 5.9 | | 5.3 | | 32.7 | 44.0 | | 27.9 | |
| Lake County | 6.4 | 6.3 | | 4.9 | | 103.3 | 57.2 | | 91.0 | |
| Tuolumne | 6.5 | 6.7 | | 6.3 | | 49.1 | 33.2 | | 57.8 | |
| Mendocino | 9.5 | 8.7 | | 5.6 | | 102.6 | 61.0 | | 87.1 | |
| Nevada | 6.5 | 6.8 | | NA | | 34.0 | 34.0 | | 21.5 | |
| Plumas | 9.5 | 23.4 | | NA | | 112.0 | 71.0 | | NA | |
| Shasta | 6.6 | 5.5 | | 4.0 | r | 28.3 | 45.5 | | 28.1 | r |
| Siskiyou County | 9.1 | 11.4 | | 9.1 | | 64.6 | 53.4 | | 71.2 | |
| Sutter | 5.0 | 3.9 | | 2.4 | | 20.0 | 38.0 | | 11.0 | |
| Tehama | 10.2 | 6.0 | | 6.3 | | 54.2 | 66.8 | | 41.4 | r |
| Yolo | 3.5 | 3.0 | | 2.7 | | 24.3 | 19.8 | | 18.8 | |
| Yuba | 3.8 | 3.9 | | 2.6 | | 19.0 | 26.0 | | 10.5 | |
r = revised
NA = not available
