Record Low Mortgage Rates Continue To Fall in West Los Angeles

Mortgage rates headed down again, after lingering at a record low for two weeks. The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell 5 basis points this week, to 4.45%, according to the Bankrate.com national survey of large lenders. In the 25-year history of Bankrate’s weekly survey, the 30-year fixed has never been lower. According to statistics compiled by the National Bureau of Economic Research, the last time mortgage rates were below 4.5% was in April 1953.

Source: Record-Low Rates Slide Further

 

Southern California Home Sales Up, Prices Level Off in June

Southern California’s housing market’s sales volume rose slowly in June as the median price slipped back slightly from May, but remained 13 percent higher than a year ago. A total of 23,871 new and resale homes were sold in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Ventura, San Bernardino and Orange counties last month. That was up 7.2 percent for May, and up 2.6 percent from June 2009.  The sales count was the highest since July last year. It was the strongest month of June since 2006.

“The market was wildly out of kilter a year ago, now it’s just somewhat out of kilter. We’re still seeing lots of bargain hunting, and we’re not seeing much discretionary buying. Still, more money was spent last month buying homes in Southern California than in the past two years, and more money was loaned. The tax credits had something to do with that, though it’s not clear exactly how much. With the impact of the credits fading fast, the next few months will tell us a lot”, said John Walsh, MDA DataQuick president.

The median price paid for a Southern California home was $300,000 last month. That was down 1.6 percent from $305,000 in May, and up 13.2 percent from $265,000 for June 2009. The low point of the current cycle was $247,000 in April 2009, the high point was $505,000 in mid 2007. The median’s peak-to-trough drop was due to a decline in home values as well as a shift in sales toward low-cost homes, especially foreclosures.

Indicators of market distress continue to move in different directions. Foreclosure activity remains high by historical standards but is lower than peak levels reached over the last two years. Financing with multiple mortgages is low, down payment sizes are stable, and non-owner occupied buying is above- average, MDA DataQuick reported.

In Los Angeles, and especially on the Westside and Santa Monica, the next few months should be good indicators of how the market is trending.

 

June Real Estate Mortgage News

What to say about mortgage rates?  Well, mortgage rates were little changed this week, which is actually a good thing, considering that the homebuyer tax credit expired recently. Starts on one-family homes fell 17 percent to an annualized pace of 468,000 units in May from April’s 20-month high. In addition, permits on one-unit homes fell to the slowest pace since May 2009. But, considering the expected downturn after the expiration of the tax credit, the market is holding stable.

Nonetheless, household balance sheets have been improving over the past four quarters. Basically, households gained $6.3 trillion in net worth in the first quarter from a year ago, according to the Federal Reserve. In addition, homeowners have regained $1.1 trillion in home equity over the same time period.  For homeowners, things are on moving in a positive direction.

Conforming Loan Limits ($417,000 and Under)

Loan Program            Interest Rate            Points

30 Year Fixed                  4.500%                           1.000

10/1 ARM                         4.250%                           1.000

5/1 ARM                           3.500%                           1.000

5/1 ARM I/O                   3.500%                           1.000

Jumbo Loan Limits ($729,751 and Over)

Loan Program            Interest Rate            Points

 

10/1 ARM                         5.250%                           1.000

7/1 ARM                           4.875%                           1.000

5/1 ARM                           4.250%                          1.000

Agency Jumbo Limits ($417,001 – $729,750)

Loan Program            Interest Rates            Point

30 Year Fixed                   4.750%                            1.000

Money Rates

M11                                      M21

10 Yr Bond                           3.18

Prime                                     3.25

6 Month Libor                     0.75188%

 

Market Conditions for Sunset Park in Santa Monica, California

The Sunset Park neighborhood of Santa Monica, which has approximately 2700 single family homes, has been a very active market in the past few months. There are only 23 homes currently available with an average amount of more than 100 days listed on the market.

As of the third week of May, there are currently 15 properties that are in escrow and under contract. And since March of this year there have been 19 homes that have sold and closed escrow.

This is a positive market indicator of a neighborhood that shows a high demand with a very limited inventory.

In this market, buyers are being much more meticulous with their searches.  They are definitely looking for value since longer term goals are much more of the focus. I am seeing properties selling with multiple offers and selling above their asking prices. It is evident that buyers only make offers if they perceive that the value is there and the property might not be available tomorrow.