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Bay Area Real Estate, california association of realtors, Contra Costa County Real Estate, housing market, Lamorinda Real Estate, Pacific Union, Real Estate Market, real estate news
Fresh from Pacific Union’s blog, this week is a weekly recap of real estate highlights:
The traditional Spring Selling Season is off to a great start – again – according to Core Logic. The company recently released a report showing a 12.2% year-over-year increase in home prices, representing the 24th straight month (i.e. 2 years) this has happened. California – and the Bay Area in particular – is leading the way. Including distressed sales (e.g. foreclosures, short sales, et al), California prices rose 19.8% year-over-year. In good news for first time and move up buyers, Core Logic’s chief economist (Dr. Mark Fleming) said that the company expects home prices to level out next year as fewer home owners are under water, leading to an increase in the supply of homes and decreasing the continued price surges of the last couple of years.
Across the Richmond-San Rafael bridge, a development firm as purchased 101 acres in southern Marin County and plans to build apartments and a school on the site. Apparently, the new owner is seeking to put about 100 rental units on the site. No time table as to when any plans are expected to come up before the County Planning Commission.
Lastly, the California Association of Realtors released a survey last week showing that there is an increasing number of international homebuyers in our state. According to the survey, 85% of these buyers considered only the US as a potential place to buy a home, with the overwhelming reason being the Sunshine State’s climate (they obviously didn’t visit SF in the summer!) and that they wanted to be closer to family.
For a more complete rundown of last week’s real estate roundup, check out Pacific Union’s blog.