Latest Event Updates
Homebuilder Confidence Stabilizes
Homebuilder confidence stabilizes,
hinting at solid spring home buying season-
Despite affordability and labor concerns, homebuilder confidence held steady in March, according to the National Association of Home Builders. “In a healthy sign for the housing market, more builders are saying that lower price points are selling well, and increased inventory of affordably priced homes, will enable more entry-level buyers to enter the market,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz.
With that being said, the report also warns that affordability continues to remain a key concern for builders. “The skilled worker shortage, lack of buildable lots and stiff zoning restrictions in many major metro markets are among the challenges builders face as they strive to construct homes that can sell at affordable price points,” the report states. courtesy of housingwire.com
So Cal Rent Hikes 2019 Forecast
Helping Seniors Transfer Property Taxes
Portability Initiative is Designed to Help 55 and Over to Sell Their Homes and Buy Another
The California Association of Realtors (CAR) is attempting to qualify a ballot initiative, The Property Tax Fairness Initiative, that will restructure the way property taxes are calculated for buyers over the age of 55 (also the disabled and/or natural disaster victims).
CAR says, “A large part of the reason why (55 and overs are not moving) is that, even if they want to downsize or move closer to family, the prospect of a property tax increase of 100, 200, or even 300 percent, effectively locks our parents and our grandparents in their homes.” Thus, CAR maintains, “The Property Tax Initiative will help these homeowners to sell their current homes and move without being subjected to what is effectively a massive moving penalty”.
How will it help? Currently there are only limited conditions under which someone over 55 may transfer his or her old tax base to a newly purchased home. The Initiative would expand this.
“C.A.R.’s Property Tax Fairness Initiative would allow homeowners 55 years of age or older to transfer their Prop. 13 tax-base to a home of any price, located anywhere in the state, any number of times.” –taken from realtytimes.com 2-13-18
Southern California Sales
The median price paid for all Southern California homes sold in December 2017 was $507,000, a new all-time high that surpasses the previous peak of $505,000.
Absentee buyers (investors and second home purchasers) bought 22.9% of Southland homes sold in December 2017. The peak was 32.2% in February 2013. The monthly average for absentee buyers since 2000 is about 18.0%.
The number of homes that sold for $500,000 or more in December 2017 accounted for 51.3% of all sales. That is up from 45.4% in December 2016.
Foreclosure re-sales (properties foreclosed on in the prior 12 months) represented 1.4% of the Southland re-sale market in December 2017. That was down from 2.9% in December 2016. Foreclosure resales peaked at 56.7% in February 2009.
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Loans made up 16.1% of all home purchase loans in Southern California in December 2017. Riverside and San Bernardino counties experienced the region’s highest FHA share in December at 25.1% and 26.9% respectively.
Just Released from DQNews January 30th, 2018
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