Latest Event Updates
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
(951) 522-0518 or april@teamgreer.com
Housing Affordability California
3rd Quarter Housing Affordability
• 28% of California households could afford to purchase the $555,680
median-priced home in the third quarter of 2017, down from 29% in
second-quarter 2017 and down from 31% in the third-quarter 2016.
• A minimum annual income of $112,100 was needed to make the
monthly payments of $2,800, including principal interest, and taxes on a
30-year fixed-rate mortgage at a 4.16% interest rate.
• 38% of Riverside County households could afford to purchase the
$387,000 median-priced home in the third quarter. An annual income of
$78,070 was needed to make the monthly payments of $1,950.
• 51% of San Bernardino County households could afford to purchase the
$270,000 median-priced home in the third quarter. An annual income of
$54,470 was needed to make the monthly payments of $1,360.
• 26% of San Diego County households could afford to purchase the
$607,000 median-priced home in the third quarter. An annual income of
$122,460 was needed to make the monthly payments of $3,060.
• During the third quarter of 2017, the most affordable counties in
California were Tehama (56%), Kern (53%), and Kings, (52%).
• During the third quarter of 2017, the least affordable counties in
California were San Francisco (13%), San Mateo (15%), Santa Clara and
Santa Cruz, (both at 17%), and Marin (18%).
from CAR.ORG December 2017
New Recording Fees California
CALIFORNIA
Affordable Housing
Fund Document Recording Fee
With keen awareness of California’s shortage of affordable housing, the legislature passed more than 20 bills related to housing in this year’s session.
Chief among these laws is Senate Bill 2.
This law provides a permanent source of funding for affordable housing by imposing a flat $75 per document recording fee on every real estate instrument that is NOT part of a sales transaction. In this way, SB 2 is written to ensure that the fee will not burden home purchase transactions.
The fee will be capped at $225 per transaction and coordinated with other revenue sources.
C.A.R. supported SB 2 which dedicates 20% of the funds generated to affordable workforce housing and 70% of revenues to local governments for housing.
California Housing Market Forecast 2018
California Housing Market Forecast 2018
With the economy expected to continue growing, housing demand should remain strong and incrementally boost California’s housing market in 2018, though a shortage of available homes for sale and affordability constraints will be a challenge, according to the 2018 California Housing Market Forecast, released by California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.).
“Solid job growth and favorable interest rates will drive a strong demand for housing next year,” said C.A.R. President Geoff McIntosh. “However, a persistent shortage of homes for sale and increasing home prices will dictate the market as housing affordability diminishes for buyers struggling to get into the market.”
- The forecast sees a modest gain in existing single-family home sales of 1.0% next year, up slightly from the projected sales figure of 421,900 units for 2017. The 2017 figure is 1.3% higher compared to 2016.
- The average for 30-year, fixed mortgage interest rates will increase slightly to 4.3% in 2018, up from 4.0% in 2017 and 3.6% in 2016, but still will remain low by historical standards.
- The California median home price is forecast to increase 4.2% to $561,000 in 2018, following a projected 7.2% increase in 2017 to $538,500.
All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Taken from CAR.org 10/17/17
