Bucking the trend (April's numbers)

The April market report from DataQuick came out today. While SoCal as a whole looked ok the IE had some interesting stats. Usually this time of year sales numbers and prices tend to creep upwards. This year should have been busier with buyers trying to get in before the tax credit expired. But the numbers don't show the normal upward movement. Prices were down slightly in both San Berdu and Riverside counties (down 1.5% in both counties from March). And sales numbers were also down from March and way down from last year.

From DQ
Southern California’s housing market leveled off last month as sales activity migrated ever-so-slightly from inland bargain areas toward entry- and mid-market neighborhoods closer to the coast. The overall median price was unchanged from the month before, but it jumped compared with April 2009’s low point, a real estate information service reported.

Sales of new and resale homes totaled 20,299 in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Ventura, San Bernardino and Orange counties last month. That was down 0.9 percent from 20,476 in March, and down 1.0 percent from 20,514 for April 2009, according to MDA DataQuick of San Diego.

April’s year-over-year changes in sales volume ranged from a decline of 12.3 percent in San Bernardino County to an 11.6 percent increase in Orange County. Condo resales rose 16.9 percent. The Southland’s 1.0 percent decline in overall sales was the first year-over-year drop in almost two years.

All homes	Apr-09	Apr-10	%Chng	Apr-09	Apr-10	%Chng
Los Angeles	6,425	6,688	4.1%	$300,000	$329,500	9.8%
Orange	2,391	2,669	11.6%	$380,000	$430,000	13.20%
Riverside	4,469	4,117	-7.9%	$180,000	$195,000	8.3%
San Bernardino	3,130	2,744	-12.3%	$138,500	$150,000	8.3%
San Diego	3,375	3,292	-2.5%	$290,000	$325,250	12.20%
Ventura	724	789	9.0%	$340,000	$382,000	12.40%
SoCal	20,514	20,299	-1.0%	$247,000	$285,000	15.40%