By Susanne Dwyer
Amid the lowest housing inventory levels in more than 13 years, existing-home sales in California still eked out a year-over-year gain, while the median sales price posted a solid annual increase, according to the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.).
Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 420,960 units in December, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations and MLSs statewide. The statewide sales figure represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2017 if sales maintained the December pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales. The December sales figure was down 4.4 percent from the 440,340 level in November and up 1.4 percent compared with home sales in December 2016 of a revised 415,280.
For 2017 as a whole, a preliminary 423,760 homes closed escrow in California, up 1.4 percent from 2016’s pace of 417,720. After a strong first quarter start to 2017, sales momentum lost steam throughout the remainder of the year, and year-to-date sales growth declined steadily to hit the lowest level at the end of the year.
“A severe shortage of homes for sale continues to push up home prices and erode affordability, which in turn is subduing home sales,” says C.A.R. President Steve White. “What’s more, with the passage of the tax reform bill that makes home-buying less attractive, homeownership costs will increase for many, which could reduce the desire and demand for buying a home.”
The statewide median price continued to grow at a strong pace over last year, and remained above the $500,000 mark for the 10th straight month. The $549,560 December median price was 0.5 percent higher than November’s $546,820 and 7.6 percent higher than the revised $510,560 recorded in December 2016. The year-over-year price gain has been growing at or above 7 percent for six of the past seven months.
“California’s housing market turned in a respectable performance throughout 2017, with home sales increasing 1.4 percent and the median price climbing 6.9 percent for the year as a whole to reach $537,860 in 2017,” says C.A.R. Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. “Looking ahead, the market will remain solid, but both sales and prices will be impacted by inventory shortages, impending interest rate hikes, and general economic factors, including the effects of tax reform.”
Other key points from C.A.R.’s December 2017 resale housing report include:
- All of the major regions posted year-over-year sales declines, with sales in the Los Angeles metro region dropping 7.1 percent, sales in the Inland Empire decreasing 3.5 percent, and sales in the San Francisco Bay Area dipping 0.3 percent from last year.
- Sales dropped in five of six counties in the Southern California region, with both Ventura and Orange counties decreasing by double digits. A supply shortage and affordability were likely factors in the decline. Sales in Los Angeles, San Diego and Riverside also dropped moderately when compared to last year, while sales in
From:: Real Estate News
