Home Sales Up 18% Statewide

Home sales increased 17.5 percent in June in California compared with the same period a year ago, while the median price of an existing home fell 37.7 percent, the California Association of Realtors® reported recently.

"Statewide home sales remained above the 400,000 level for the said C.A.R. President William E. Brown. "Following a 30-month string of year-to-year percentage decreases that began in October 2005, sales during June also posted their third consecutive year-to-year gain.

"Sales were driven in part by large shares of deeply discounted distressed sales in many parts of the state," he said. "With lower prices and favorable interest rates, affordability also has improved significantly in recent months, paving the way for many buyers to purchase their first home."

The median price of an existing, single-family detached home in California during June 2008 was $368,250, a 37.7 percent decrease from the revised $591,280 median for June 2007, C.A.R. reported. The June 2008 median price fell 4.3 percent compared with May's $385,840 median price.

The inventory dropped from a 10.2-month supply to 7.7 months, assuming sales continue at the rate posted during June.

Thirty-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.32 percent during June, compared with 6.66 percent a year ago. Adjustable-rate loans averaged 5.15 percent compared to 5.68 percent in June 2007.

It took a median of 49.1 days in June 2008 to sell a single-family home, compared with 51.5 days for the same period a year ago.