Rodeo Realty

Southern California home sales dropped last month from August, as they normally do, and eked out a tiny gain from a year earlier as bargain hunting below $300,000 remained relatively strong, according to a release from San Diego-based DataQuick.

To view the complete release visit: http://dqnews.com/Articles/2011/News/California/Southern-CA/RRSCA111013.aspx

Home prices continued their sideways-to-downward slide, with the region’s median sale price falling below the year-ago level for the seventh consecutive month, a real estate information service reported.

A total of 18,149 new and resale houses and condos sold in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Ventura, San Bernardino and Orange counties in September. That was down 7.7 percent from 19,654 in August and up 0.3 percent from 18,091 in September 2010, according to the release..

It’s normal for home sales to drop between August and September, partly because many home buyers try to close their deals before school starts in late summer. On average, sales have fallen 8.3 percent between August and September since 1988, when DataQuick’s statistics begin.

September sales have varied from a low of 12,455 in 2007 to a high of 37,771 in 2003. Last month’s sales were 25.3 percent below the September average of 24,310 transactions since 1988.

“Last month’s Southland sales weren’t great but, like some other economic indicators of late, they came in a bit higher than some might have expected. Holding steady with a year ago isn’t so bad when you consider the hits the housing market has taken in recent months, including a big psychological blow from a tanking stock market in early August. Part of what’s keeping demand afloat is improved affordability thanks to ultra-low mortgage rates and lower home prices. We’ll have to wait and see what impact the lower conforming loan limits, which took effect recently, will have in some of the higher-priced markets,” said John Walsh, DataQuick president.

The median price paid for all new and resale Southland houses and condos purchased last month was $280,000. That was up 0.4 percent from $279,000 in August but down 5.2 percent from $295,500 in September 2010.

The regional median has declined year-over-year for the past seven months – since March. The last time any one of the six Southland counties posted an annual gain in its median sale price was in January, when San Bernardino logged a 1.0 percent year-over-year increase.

Last month’s median was 13.4 percent higher than the median’s low point in the current real estate cycle – $247,000 in April 2009 – but was 44.6 percent lower than the peak $505,000 median in mid 2007. The peak-to-trough drop was due to a decline in home values and a shift in sales toward lower-cost homes, especially inland foreclosures.

Built in 1947 and located on PCH, the three bedroom, two bath, 1,300 square foot Cape Cod-style home is on Las Tunas Beach. It has expansive decks overlooking the ocean, high ceilings, and hardwood floors throughout.

The Grant Deed shows that one Judy Garland Minnelli purchased the house in November of 1947. The kitchen has Viking appliances. There are two wood burning fireplaces, one in the master bedroom and one in the living room. The property also has a courtyard and direct beach access.

The buyers are Mitchell and Stacy Leib. Mitchell Leib is president of music and soundtracks at Disney Studios. The home is a fixer-upper, said the agent, and the couple plans to update it in the near future.

Kathleen Smith of Rodeo Realty’s Studio City office represented the buyer. Irene Dazzan-Palmer and Sandro Dazzan of Coldwell Banker Previews International were the listing agents.

The walled and gated Mediterranean estate sits at the end of a private road on five acres with pathways, bridges, waterfalls, fruit trees, a meditation garden, a swimming pool and a tennis court with viewing pavilion.

This is a piece Carol Wolfe of Rodeo Realty’s Encino office wrote for Encino.patch.com back in August. The original story can be viewed at: http://encino.patch.com/articles/conforming-rate-loan-limits-set-to-expire. Some other resources on the subject were added for this blog post. Here it is:

Unless Congress acts, the current conforming loan limits will expire on Sept. 30, and the cost of a mortgage could rise significantly.

More than 30,000 California families will face higher down payments, higher mortgage rates and stricter loan qualification requirements if conforming loan limits on mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are reduced beginning Oct. 1, according to analysis by the California Association of REALTORS® (CAR).

The Los Angeles Times wrote a piece on the issue today. Read quotes from Rodeo Realty’s Syd Leibovitch at: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-loan-limits-20110927,0,7797548.story

Despite the Obama administration saying it will support a one-year extension of the current loan limits, said Wolfe, Bank of America has already lowered its loan limits for new loans, and others are expected to follow suit.

This is potentially a big deal for home buyers and sellers here in the Los Angeles area! Many buyers will be looking at higher down payments, higher mortgage rates and stricter qualification requirements.

Government-sponsored enterprises such as FHA, Fannie and Freddie buy and guarantee mortgages. That government guarantee allows buyers the opportunity to pay less money down than conventional mortgages, because it reduces lender’s risk.

In 2008, Congress temporarily raised the conforming loan limits from $417,000 to $729,750 and has extended them annually through fiscal year 2011, according to CAR. This has been an effort to spur home buying in a tough economy.

I agree with CAR’s stance that higher loan limits are an essential part of the housing market recovery. And I support the association’s efforts to urge Congress to maintain the current limits and make them permanent. Congress is the only body that can extend the program.

John Galich and Kristin Morley of Rodeo Realty’s Sunset Strip office are listing the former home of  the late actor Heath Ledger for $2,995,000. Known as “The Tree House,” the secluded abode is also said to have once been owned by comedian Ellen DeGeneres.

The 1951 mid-century is nestled behind gates on a celebrity filled stretch of Woodrow Wilson. It sits amidst a mature sycamore grove and nearly a half an acre of lush grounds. Check out what Huffington Post had to say about the home: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/22/heath-ledgers-home-hollywood_n_976589.html

 

State, county and national real estate statistics paint broad brush strokes about what’s happening in the market. The key to success for buyers, sellers and agents alike is understanding market conditions in specific communities and neighborhoods.

So Rodeo Realty recently launched a Web site, rodeomarketreports.com, which will post monthly localized market reports for communities in the Westside of Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley area, and Ventura County. (Please note: The images below do not link directly to the market reports. You must visit the before mentioned Web site.)

 

Actor Jason Priestley, well known for playing the character Brandon Walsh on the hit television series “Beverly Hills 90210,” has placed his Los Angeles area home on the market for $2.1 million.

Here’s what the LA Times had to say about the property: http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-hotprop-jason-priestley-20110912,0,3550525.story. NBC’s OpenHouse also featured the home: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/blogs/open-house/Jason-Priestley-Lists-Non-90210-Pad–129505768.html

Actor, singer and comedian Wayne Brady is selling his home in the San Fernando Valley for $2.2 million. Laura Piller and the Cohan Team of Rodeo Realty’s Calabasas office are the listing agents.

The gourmet kitchen features custom cabinets, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, eating area and walk-in pantry. The master suite has a sitting area, built-in media center, customized walk-in closet and spa-style bathroom. The house also has city views, state-of-the-art home theater, and designer touches throughout.