Quick Market Summary: Continued is the trend towards a moderating marketplace. As I like to think about it -- the foot is off the pedal so the market is slowing. We still have the characteristics of a seller's market BUT there's more competition for sellers now than earlier in the year. You've no doubt noticed a bit more signs out and those properties on busier streets staying on the market longer if not more aggressively priced. One aspect of this change in that there is less activity and traffic for showings and open houses than earlier. My forecast is for an increased level of activity after Labor Day that we have most years. The year over year median in Santa Clara County was up 15.6% to $1,350,000 in July and in San Mateo County the median price was $1,638,000 as compared to $1,600,000 last year at this time. Inventories are up in each county. Condo and townhouse median in Santa Clara County reached $910,000 in July compared to $733,000 last year same month or an increase of 24.1%. In Santa Clara County 70.6% of homes that closed escrow in July sold for more than list price inferring multiple offers and one of highest rate for this time of year. It was 75% in San Mateo County.
Nuts and Bolts: Inventory or the amount of homes available for purchase in Santa Clara County was 1,209, up from 834 or 45.0% from last year. Sales (accepted offers) were an anemic 993 down 13.4% from the same month last year when is was 1,146. One thing I've noticed in the stats is that the average size single family home that closed escrow reached 1,799 square feet, highest over the past 14 years and 12% larger in size than when is was 1,605 square feet in 2005.
For San Mateo County, inventory of single family residences stood at 414 in July versus 319 last year of an increase of 29.8%. Sales (accepted offers) were 382 for July and 366 for the same month last year. For both counties, the inventory continues to lag far below the historical average for this time of the year which continues to place pressure on buyers.
Sale price to list price ratio, an important key market condition indicator, shows that for Santa Clara County transactions completed during July this stood at 105.2% and one of the highest ever for this time of the year. Last year at this time it stood at 105.5%.
The hottest market in Santa Clara County belongs to the Cupertino/Sunnyvale market area (median price of about $2.18 million) at 108.5% which means that the average closed sale has a sale price 8.5% higher than the list price! It also registered the lowest median days on market at just 10 which means half the inventory sells in just a bit over a week and 81% of closings sold above list price! The coolest is the South County (Morgan Hill, Gilroy, San Martin) market area (median price of about $0.955 million) with 101.4% and 28 days of unsold inventory.
Days of unsold inventory moved up a bit and stand at 42 for Santa Clara County and 34 for San Mateo County. This means that for San Mateo County that the entire inventory, if held static, would sell out in just over a month!
San Mateo County’s overall sale price to list price ratio stands at 108.6% with the highest ratio and hottest market area is in the North (Brisbane, Colma, Daly City, Pacifica, San Bruno, South San Francisco) market area (median price of about $1.155 million) at 114.3% with a median days on market of 13. One major advantage of this area is its proximity to San Francisco and a heck of a lot less expensive to purchase or to rent! The coolest is the Expensive (Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, Hillsborough, Woodside) market area (median price of about $4,110 million) at 98.2% with median days on the market of 28.
As always, markets are always changing and the supply and demand in a particular area or even neighborhood can vary. If you would like specific market condition information for your area or neighborhood or a current home valuation, please feel free to call me, your RE/MAX Gold Agent! You are welcome to leave your comments or questions or contact me directly at my website. Check out and “like” my Facebook Business Page (have 775 likes – help me to reach 1,000!) or follow me on my Twitter Page.Thank you.
