Metro Home Prices (NAR)

(May 12, 2009 Release)

Highlights

• In the first quarter of 2009, 134 out of 152 metros experienced declines in median existing home prices from a year ago.
• Foreclosures and short sales accounted for 45 percent of transactions in the fourth quarter, lowering the national median price to $169,100 which is 13.8 percent below the first quarter median price in 2008.
• Major metros with the steepest price declines were San Francisco (-42.7%), Las Vegas (-37.3%) and Miami (35.5%).
• Major metros posting the smallest price declines were Albuquerque (-4.1%), Dallas (-4.7%) and Houston (-6.7%).
• The West region posted the largest price decline at 19.8 percent, while the Northeast, South and Midwest posted declines of 15.9, 10.8 and 6.8 percent  from a year earlier, respectively.

NAR Median Regional and Metro Prices (1Q 09)
  Median Sales Price (Ths.$) % Chg a Year Ago
United States 169.0 -13.8
Northeast 235.5 -15.9
Midwest 132.4 -6.8
South 146.6 -10.8
West 237.6 -19.8
     
Atlanta 115.6 -24.9
Boston 290.7 -18.7
Charlotte 71.5 -11.0
Chicago 185.6 -25.6
Cleveland 69.9 -31.5
Dallas 135.7 -4.7
Denver 192.9 -13.7
Detroit NA NA
Las Vegas 155.3 -37.3
Los Angeles 303.5 -34.1
Miami 206.0 -35.4
Minneapolis 174.1 -12.9
New York 374.5 -16.0
Phoenix 129.2 -41.9
Portland 248.6 -13.3
San Diego 323.2 -29.6
San Francisco 402.0 -42.7
Seattle 315.2 -15.3
Tampa 135.3 -26.7
Washington 279.4 -25.0

Source: National Association of Realtors

Analysis

Distressed home sales, weak demand for non-distressed property, and a deteriorating labor market likely accounted for the dismal home price performance in the first quarter of this year. As stated, foreclosures accounted for about 45 percent of total home sales in the quarter. Foreclosures are selling at discounted prices relative to normal home sales. Distressed sales were particularly prevalent in California.

The median home price for the second quarter of this year is expected to continue the dismal performance of the first quarter due to a massive job losses experienced in the first quarter, combined with weak housing demand for non-distressed properties and a run up of foreclosure sales in the first quarter.

1 Comments For This Post

  1. A. C. Says:

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