Sweet Orange

Note: The Altos Market Action Index shows the balance between potential buyers and sellers, in other words, the balance between supply and demand. Above 30 is a sellers’ market; below 30 is a buyers’ market.

Also, these Altos Research numbers are for detached houses only (condos are not included). For this reason, I have included numbers that show the percentage of hones in each city that are detached houses. The Redfin numbers are for both houses and condos.

To see additional information from Redfin including which homes are currently on the market as well as what homes have sold for recently, click on the Redfin link. To see additional Altos Research numbers for each city, click on the Altos Research link.

Summary: Once again, the markets for all Central Orange County housing are buyers’ markets. However, according to the Altos index numbers, the Central Orange County housing market is stronger than it was in September. And in general, according to the index numbers, the lower-priced home markets are stronger than the high-priced areas. For example, compare Newport Beach, Seal Beach and Villa Park Altos index numbers to the Santa Ana index number.

One more point on the Altos index numbers for Central Orange County cities: Seal Beach showed the least movement since last month, and Los Alamitos showed the biggest increase. correction made 10-21-09 sw

Following are some recent Altos Research and Redfin numbers for the Central Orange County housing market:

Costa Mesa: approximate % homes on market that are detached–70%

• Altos Research Market Index Number:
  October 18, 2009: 20.96
  September 13, 2009: 18.97
  July 12, 2009: 21.13
• Altos median list price for detached house:
  October 18, 2009: $570,626
• Redfin median sold price:
  September 2009: house–$403/SF; condo–$217/SF

Fountain Valley: approximate % homes on market that are detached–80%

• Altos Research Market Index Number:
  October 18, 2009: 23.86
  September 13, 2009: 20.72
  July 12, 2009: 26.05
• Altos median list price for detached house:
  October 18, 2009: $598,615
• Redfin median sold price:
  September 2009: house–$307/SF; condo–$304/SF

Huntington Beach: approximate % homes on market that are detached–70%

• Altos Research Market Index Number:
  October 18, 2009: 17.86
  September 13, 2009: 16.63
  July 12, 2009: 14.50
• Altos median list price for detached house:
  October 18, 2009: $770,762
• Redfin median sold price:
  September 2009: house–$344/SF; condo–$344/SF

Irvine: approximate % homes on market that are detached–45%

• Altos Research Market Index Number:
  October 18, 2009: 19.21
  September 13, 2009: 17.18
  July 12, 2009: 18.31
• Altos median list price for detached house:
  October 18, 2009: $863,177
• Redfin median sold price:
  September 2009: house–$338/SF; condo–$318/SF

Los Alamitos: approximate % homes on market that are detached–75%

• Altos Research Market Index Number:
  October 18, 2009: 16.83
  September 13, 2009: 12.31
  July 12, 2009: 11.90
• Altos median list price for detached house:
  October 18, 2009: $860,346
• Redfin median sold price:
  September 2009: house–$260/SF; condo–$275/SF

Newport Beach: approximate % homes on market that are detached–65%

• Altos Research Market Index Number:
  October 18, 2009: 13.61
  September 13, 2009: 11.04
  July 12, 2009: 11.42
• Altos median list price for detached house:
  October 18, 2009: $1,998,992
• Redfin median sold price:
  September 2009: house–$789/SF; condo–$504/SF

Orange: approximate % homes on market that are detached–85%

• Altos Research Market Index Number:
  October 18, 2009: 19.96
  September 13, 2009: 18.15
  July 12, 2009: 19.26
• Altos median list price for detached house:
  October 18, 2009: $552,197
• Redfin median sold price:
  September 2009: house–$254/SF; condo–$213/SF

Santa Ana: approximate % homes on market that are detached–65%

• Altos Research Market Index Number:
  October 18, 2009: 23.04
  September 13, 2009: 20.40
  July 12, 2009: 21.75
• Altos median list price for detached house:
  October 18, 2009: $339,523
• Redfin median sold price:
  September 2009: house–$236/SF; condo–$103/SF

Seal Beach: approximate % homes on market that are detached–25%

• Altos Research Market Index Number:
  October 18, 2009: 14.89
  September 13, 2009: 14.24
  July 12, 2009: 12.91
• Altos median list price for detached house:
  October 18, 2009: $980,553
• Redfin median sold price:
  September 2009: house–$398/SF; condo–$592/SF

Tustin: approximate % homes on market that are detached–50%

• Altos Research Market Index Number:
  October 18, 2009: 20.18
  September 13, 2009: 17.55
  July 12, 2009: 19.09
• Altos median list price for detached house:
  October 18, 2009: $629,922
• Redfin median sold price:
  September 2009: house–$372/SF; condo–$156/SF

Villa Park: approximate % homes on market that are detached–100%

• Altos Research Market Index Number:
  October 18, 2009: 16.09
  September 13, 2009: 14.33
  July 12, 2009: 8.43
• Altos median list price for detached house:
  October 18, 2009: $1,202,962
• Redfin median sold price
  September 2009: house–$376/SF; condo–n/a

Note: The Altos Market Action Index shows the balance between potential buyers and sellers, in other words, the balance between supply and demand.  Above 30 is a sellers’ market; below 30 is a buyers’ market. Also, these Altos Research numbers are for detached homes only (condos are not included). For this reason, I have included numbers that show the percentage of home in each city that are detached.

To see what homes are currently on the market as well as what homes have sold recently, click on the city name. To see additional Altos Research numbers for each city, click on the index number for each city.

Altos Market Action Index for Central Orange County cities, week ending on September 13, 2009:

Costa Mesa: approximate % homes on market that are detached–72%

• September 13, 2009: 18.97
• July 12, 2009: 21.13

Fountain Valley: approximate % homes on market that are detached–81%

• September 13, 2009: 20.72
• July 12, 2009: 26.05

Huntington Beach: approximate % homes on market that are detached–69%

• September 13, 2009: 16.63
• July 12, 2009: 14.50

Irvine: approximate % homes on market that are detached–43%

• September 13, 2009: 17.18
• July 12, 2009: 18.31

Los Alamitos: approximate % homes on market that are detached–77%

• September 13, 2009: 12.31
• July 12, 2009: 11.90

Newport Beach: approximate % homes on market that are detached–67%

• September 13, 2009: 11.04
• July 12, 2009: 11.42

Orange: approximate % homes on market that are detached–86%

• September 13, 2009: 18.15
• July 12, 2009: 19.26

Santa Ana: approximate % homes on market that are detached–64%

• September 13, 2009: 20.40
• July 12, 2009: 21.75

Seal Beach: approximate % homes on market that are detached–26%

• September 13, 2009: 14.24
• July 12, 2009: 12.91

Tustin: approximate % homes on market that are detached–51%

• September 13, 2009: 17.55
• July 12, 2009: 19.09

Villa Park: approximate % homes on market that are detached–100%

• September 13, 2009: 14.33
• July 12, 2009: 8.43

Summary: All Central Orange County housing markets are buyers’ markets. In general, according to the index numbers, the health of the Central Orange County housing market has decreased since July 12th.  And in general, the lower-priced home markets are currently healthy than the high-priced areas.

According to an article in The Orange County Register by Matthew Padilla, the percentage of foreclosures increased 50% or more in the following Orange County ZIP codes: 90740 (Seal Beach), 92823 (Brea), 92604 (Irvine-Woodbridge), 92625 (Corona del Mar), 92651 (Laguna Beach), 92629 (Dana Point), 92679 (Trabuco Canyon).

However, this does not mean that these ZIPs have the highest number of foreclosures when compared to the number of homes in each of these Orange County ZIPS–only that they are seeing the biggest increase in the number of foreclosure when compared to the same period one year ago.

According to Trulia, the percentage of home on the market in each of these ZIPs that are distressed sales is as shown below. Trulia defines distressed as “homes in the pre-foreclosure, auction, or bank-owned stages of the foreclosure process.”

90740 (Seal Beach)

• Median sold price: $710,000 (however, the average list price is $406,381)
• 334 new and resell homes listed
• 35 distressed properties
• % distressed properties: 9.5%

92823 (Brea)

• Median sold price: $569,000 (however, the average list price is $742,482)
• 34 new and resell homes listed
• 19 distressed properties
• % distressed properties: 36%

92604 (Irvine, Woodbridge)

• Median sold price: $494,500 (however, the average list price is $580,821)
• 85 new and resell homes listed
• 112 distressed properties
• % distressed properties: 57%

92625 (Corona del Mar)

• Median sold price:$1,260,000 (however, the average list price is $2,781,408)
• 246 new and resell homes listed
• 54 distressed properties
• % distressed properties: 18%

92651 (Laguna Beach)

• Median sold price:$1,100,000 (however, the average list price is $3,746,754)
• 515 new and resell homes listed
• 111 distressed properties
• % distressed properties: 17.7%

92629 (Dana Point)

• Median sold price:$650,000 (however, the average list price is $1,693,055 )
• 299 new and resell homes listed
• 163 distressed properties
• % distressed properties: 35.3%

92679 (Trabuco Canyon, Dove Canyon, Coto de Caza)

• Median sold price:$640,000 (however, the average list price is $1,648,131)
• 324 new and resell homes listed
• 256 distressed properties
• % distressed properties: 44%

While they did not have as large a percentage increase as the ZIPs listed above, the following ZIPS also had an increase in the percentage of foreclosures (1%-49%):

• 90623 (La Palma)
• 92649 (Huntington Beach)
• 92886 (Yorba Linda)
• 92614 (Irvine, Woodbridge)
• 92692 (Mission Viejo)
• 92673 (San Clemente)
• 92672 (San Clemente)

In all  other Orange County ZIPs (those not listed in this post), the percentage of foreclosures decreased when compared to a year ago (June 2008). Again, this does not mean that these ZIPs had the smallest percentage of foreclosure–only the smallest increase from the previous year.

Note: Different groups use different inputs and, therefore, come up with different percentages. For example, in June, Steve Thomas of Altera stated that Irvine had 29.6% distressed homes on the market. However, Trulia numbers at that time showed that Irvine had 41% distressed homes on the market.

Tomorrow: a look at the O.C. ZIPs in which the increase in foreclosures decreased by 60% or more from the previous year. Hint: They are mostly at the lower-end of the market.

Yesterday, we took a look at some housing market numbers for North Orange County. Today, we will take a look at how the Central Orange County housing market for detached homes is doing as shown by the Altos Market Action Index. The Altos Market Action Index shows the balance between potential buyers and sellers, in other words, the balance between supply and demand.  Above 30 is a sellers’ market; below 30 is a buyers’ market.

Note that the Altos numbers are for detached homes only (condos are not included). For this reason, I have included numbers that show the percentage of home in each city that are detached. The index numbers listed below are as reported by Altos Research on July 12, 2009. The Altos numbers are updated each week, so if you click on the Altos index numbers for each city, you will see the July 19 numbers (or the most recent index number). In most cases, the July 19 numbers show that  the market has retreated further into a buyers’s market in just this one week.

Also, note that the Altos numbers for Central Orange County show a similar story when it comes to the high-end and low-end of the housing market: Central Orange County cities with the highest-priced homes  have some of  the least favorable market index number (for example, Newport Beach, Villa Park and Los Alamitos). And the Central Orange County cities with lower-priced homes have some of the most favorable market index numbers (for example, Santa Ana). However, as shown by the numbers, the housing market in all of these cities is a buyers’ market.

To see what homes are currently on the market as well as what homes have sold recently, click on the city name.

Note: The brown line in the graphs is the Altos Market Action Index 90-day median; the black line is the Altos Market Action Index 7-day median.

Costa Mesa:

• Altos Research Index–21.13
• approximate % homes on market that are detached–72%

Fountain Valley:

• Altos Research Index–26.05
• approximate % homes on market that are detached–81%

Huntington Beach:

• Altos Research Index–~14.50
• approximate % homes on market that are detached–69%

Irvine:

• Altos Research Index–18.31
• approximate % homes on market that are detached–43%

Los Alamitos:

• Altos Research Index–11.90
• approximate % homes on market that are detached–77%

Newport Beach:

• Altos Research Index–11.42
• approximate % homes on market that are detached–67%

Orange:

• Altos Research Index–19.26
• approximate % homes on market that are detached–86%

Santa Ana:

• Altos Research Index–21.75
• approximate % homes on market that are detached–64%

Seal Beach: 

• Altos Research Index–12.91
• approximate % homes on market that are detached–26%

Tustin:

• Altos Research Index–19.09
• approximate % homes on market that are detached–51%

Villa Park:

• Altos Research Index–8.43
• approximate % homes on market that are detached–100%