Canadian Funding Corp Reviews CMHC Affordable Housing Reports

We’ve seen several articles over the last week or so that point to positive developments in the Palm Springs area housing market. Here’s a summary of what we’re experiencing. We’ve also included a link (found on our Facebook business page, “Palm Springs California Real Estate: Love of the Desert”) to a Desert Sun article that was quite comprehensive and well done.

Median prices for single-family homes in California have risen for the third straight month, reaching $267,570, up 4 percent from April, according to a report from the California Association of REALTORS®. This despite median prices falling 30.4% (sales increased 35.2%) compared to the same time a year ago for California statewide.

Locally, although median price fell 46.1% ( sales rose by 38.2% from a year ago), the median price is up slightly for the month of May ‘09 over April ‘09, confirming the upward trend. The inventory declined from the prior month for the fourth straight, as year over year sales remain brisk. The inventory of homes continues to drop, falling to a 4.2-month supply in May, compared to 8.7 month supply in May 2008.

California’s real estate market always has been seen as a leading indicator for the rest of the country. What is happening in California bodes well for the rest of the nation, observers say.

We are beginning to see signs of a price stabilization and even a small upward tick as inventory continues to trend downward.

“With affordability for first-time home-buyers at a record high, sales of existing single-family homes continued to remain above the 500,000 level for the ninth consecutive month,” said James Liptak, president of the California Association of Realtors.

“Buyers are beginning to realize that the combination of favorable home prices, historically low mortgage rates and first-time home buyer credits may not align again for many years.”

Greg Berkemer, executive vice president of the California Desert Association of Realtors, said, “Certainly, the housing market is affected by what goes on in the economy,” he said. “But in the housing sector alone, the last three to four months have been encouraging: We’re starting to see some price stabilization.”

That is the result of four months of slightly declining inventory, historically low interest rates, tax credits and price points, Berkemer said.

Unsold inventory tracked by more than 90 local Realtor associations statewide also fell to 4.2 months in May, the report noted, compared with the 8.7 month it would have taken to deplete the supply of homes on the market in May 2008.

“Inventory levels are well below the long-run average of seven months, which may account for the increase in median price,” said Leslie Appleton-Young, the association’s chief economist.

Capitalizing on these encouraging developments, we are also seeing the return of the Canadians, who are snapping up property in the United States. The Canadian “Loonie” is at par with the U.S. dollar for the first time since 1976-an exchange rate that makes homes and condos in the U.S. look like a real deal.

Canadian investment in U.S. real estate more than doubled in one year, from 11 percent in 2007 to 23.5 percent in 2008, making Canada the largest foreign real estate investor in the U.S., according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

Mark Dziedzic, a former financial planner from Toronto, currently living in Arizona, says, “When the Loonie hit a $1.10, it created a real buzz for Canadians, not only those looking to buy second homes, but we’re also seeing them buying purely from an investment standpoint.”

Need More Incentive to Buy?

Use Tax Credit for Downpayment

As we discussed in our last post, the tax credit can be used as additional down payment Qualified, first-time home buyers using a Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured mortgage now can apply the $8,000 federal tax credit toward their down payments, the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today. Currently, borrowers applying for an FHA-insured mortgage are required to issue minimum down payments of 3.5 percent. Previously, FHA-approved lenders were not allowed to monetizethe tax credit as part of the 3.5 percent; however, under the new guidelines announced this afternoon, borrowers now can use the tax credit as additional down payment, or for other closing costs. For more information, please visit: www.hud.gov and www.car.org.

C.A.R. launches Mortgage Protection Program

To help provide first-time home buyers with peace of mind when purchasing a home, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®’ (C.A.R.) Housing Affordability Fund is offering a new mortgage protection program to first-time home buyers. Through the C.A.R. Housing Affordability Fund’s Mortgage Protection Program, first-time home buyers who lose their jobs due to layoffs may be eligible to receive up to $1,500 per month, for six months, to help make their mortgage payments. A qualified co-buyer also can participate in the program, and receive a monthly benefit of $750 per month for up to six months. Program benefits also include coverage for accidental disability and a $10,000 death benefit.

This program can provide an important safety net for first time buyers. But what about everyone else who fear sudden unemployment? Contact us to learn about other possibilities.

 Sources: Daily Real Estate News: The Wall Street Journal, and California Association of Real Estate and The Desert Sun