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Obama To Provide Path To Major Reform Of America’s Housing Market

Leon Williams

Did you hear? The Obama Administration just delivered a report to congress where it is outlining major reform to our housing market. What does this mean? According to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, they are laying out a plan for fundamental reform on a responsible timeline. The goal is to: 1. wind down the GSEs, 2. strengthen consumer protection, and 3. preserve access to affordable housing for people who need it.

In the long run I think the plan calls for some much needed reform in our markets, however those of you wanting to make moves in the housing market better do it now, as this is a sure sign of rising interest rates, Albeit probably for the better.

The Ideal is to fix the fundamental flaws in the mortgage market by shrinking the governments footprint while better targeting the government’s support for affordable homeownership and rental housing, but all in a responsible manner.

As I have said previously in my “War on Wealth” postings, less reliance on a “Big Government” will hopefully decrease the need for the government to unreasonably attack us where it hurts the most, our Pocket Books.

Sounds like a great goal. I wonder if the Special Interests can actually get behind this and help instead of constantly trying to throw a monkey wrench in the works. If we can learn to stop thinking bipartisan and actually chip in and help no matter who is in office, we just might be able to take back our lead and standing as the place to be.

The plan call for:

Continue reading: Obama To Provide Path To Major Reform Of America’s Housing Market

The New Year Starts Off With Seasonal Norms, Home Values Remain Affordable

After the holiday lull, the Sacramento market is returning to normal activity, showing a pick up of pending sales – making way for increase closed escrows for next month. Pending sales this month totaled 1,333, 15.5% more than the 1,154 pending sales in December. Despite the positive trend in pending sales, closed escrows decreased month to month from 1,504 to 1,239 units (17.6%). Making up these sales were 579 REOs (46.7%), 320 short sales (25.8%) and 340 conventional sales (27.4%). These numbers have changed month to month with REOs up by 7.1%, short sales up by 14.1% and conventional sales down by 18.9%.

The median home sales price decreased 5% from $179,000 to $170,000. Compared with the same month last year ($170,000), the number is unchanged. The $200,000 – $249,999 price range mode still accounts for a majority (15.5% or 192 units) of the 1,239 total sales this month, while homes under $100,000 totaled 201 (16.2%) units. Conventional financing continued as the primary source of all home and condo sales (472, 35%) with cash (422, 31.3%) and FHA financing (338, 25%) making up the two other large categories. The median amount of days spent on the market (from list date to opening escrow) was 47 – the same amount of days on market as December.

The Total Listing Inventory has recently been split up to more accurately display the current market. Active Listings numbered 5,004 properties and Active Short Sales Contingent showed 1,333. Active Short Sale Contingent properties are short sale properties on which initial offers have been made and are not entirely “active.” After breaking down Total Listing Inventory, we find that the Housing Market Supply figure is more accurately reflected. The Housing Market Supply figure for January was 4 Months – up 17.6% from the 3.4 Months Inventory of December. This figure represents the amount of time – in months – it would take to deplete the Active Listing Inventory (5,004) given the current number of closed escrows (1,333). According to MetroList® MLS data, the average home was 1,732 square feet. Of the 1,239 sales this month, 110 (8.8%) had 2 bedrooms or fewer, 671 (54.1%) had 3 bedrooms, 375 (30.2%) were 4 bedroom properties and 83 properties (6.6%) had 5+ bedrooms.

Continue reading: The New Year Starts Off With Seasonal Norms, Home Values Remain Affordable