Archive June 2012
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Santa Clarita Valley Home, Condo Sales Rising
May 2012 (SCV)
Santa Clarita Valley Home, Condo Sales Rising
Home sales in the Santa Clarita Valley hit their highest mark so far this year with the 186 closed escrows reported during May up 7.5 percent compared to a year ago, the Southland Regional Association of Realtors reported on Friday, June 22.
The tally also was 5.7 percent better than this April’s activity, and up 87.9 percent from the bottom of the nationwide recession. Local monthly totals have bested the prior year in 10 of the last 12 months.
Likewise, the 83 condominiums that closed escrow last month were up 5.1 percent over May 2011, though down 17.8 percent from this April, which was the highest monthly condo total in more than four years. Condo sales were up 167.7 percent from the record low for this cycle.
“The numbers are very positive. We’re moving in the right direction,” said Erika Kauzlarich-Bird, president of SRAR’s Santa Clarita Valley Division. “Buyers who have been holding onto their money are jumping off the fence. I’m confident that the momentum will keep going. I’m certain that Santa Clarita’s appeal as the place to be, a great place to live, drives today’s market resurgence.”
Rising sales statistics come as a pleasant surprise, especially since Santa Clarita, like many communities throughout Southern California, has an extremely tight inventory of homes listed for sale.
“We have absolutely nothing to sell,” Kauzlarich-Bird said. “Virtually everything listed, especially under $450,000, It’s so tight that practically every property attracts multiple offers, which often bids the price up.”
A total of 570 properties were in the Association’s active inventory, down 52.5 percent from a year ago. That represents a mere 2.1-month supply at the current pace of sales compared to the 4.8-month supply reported in May 2011. A 5- to 6-month supply represents a balanced market.
“The multiple offers and bidding wars we’re seeing are the result of a lack of inventory, more than anything else,” said Jim Link, the Association’s chief executive officer. “There will not be another market bubble or a fast run-up in prices.
“Instead, buyers are eager to take advantage of historically low interest rates on home loans and low prices, although today’s buyers have a different attitude than those in 2004 or 2005,” he said. “They are willing to compete for a property, yet they also are realistic about a property’s value and what they are willing and can afford to pay.”
The median price of single-family homes sold last month came in at $360,000, down 5.2 percent from a year ago. The condominium median price of $200,000 was down 11.1 percent. Both are up from the low points of the recession — home median price up 5.9 percent and condos up 8.4 percent —which came in November and October, respectively, of 2011.
Link and Kauzlarich-Bird attributed the drop in the median prices to a statistical reality: increased activity in properties priced under $450,000 tends to bring the median down.
“Prices hit bottom a while ago and the market clearly is on an upswing,” Kauzlarich-Bird said. “With prices and interest rates still low, any owner who has equity in their home yet desires a larger or different property, could well make the move and wind up paying less than what they pay now.”
Despite the tight inventory, pending escrows — a measure of future sales activity — suggests the market resurgence will continue through summer. There were 465 open escrows throughout the Santa Clarita Valley at the end of May. That was up 20.2 percent from a year ago.
The Southland Regional Association of Realtors® is a local trade association with more than 9,000 members serving the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys. SRAR is one of the largest local associations in the nation.
June Newsletter
Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general.
Please click on this link to view the Housing Trends JUN-2012 Newsletter:
http://seanseckar.housingtrendsenewsletter.com/?newsletter_id=286
The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau, Realtor.org reports and other sources.
Housing Trends eNewsletter is also filled with local and national real estate sales and price activity provided by MLSs and the National Association of Realtors, U.S. Census Bureau key market indicators, housing market video reports, blogs, real estate glossary, maps, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, community reports that map shopping, schools, recreation and more.
If you are interested in determining the value of your home, click the “Home Evaluator” link for a free evaluation report:
http://SeanSeckar.housingtrendsenewsletter.com/dispContent.cfm?loadid=2&loadtype=0
Sound decisions can only be made with accurate and reliable information, and I am happy to be a trusted resource for you. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with this monthly eNewsletter, and I look forward to answering any questions you may have and to the opportunity to be your REALTOR® in the Future.
New Homes in Valencia
Valencia currently has 3 exciting communities of new homes starting from the low $200’s
Call me before viewing to discuss CASHBACK at closing!!
SeanSeckar - Realtor
RE/MAX of Santa Clarita
661-644-2945
RealEstateInSCV@aol.com
http://www.seanseckar.com/
http://www.thescvshortsalespecialist.com/
DRE License # 1336429
Situated above the banks of the San Francisquito Creek and below Copper Hill Drive, WestCreek presents a beautiful setting for a variety of townhomes and condominiums,along with an inviting collection of single-family residences. Residents will also enjoy access to the prestigious West Creek Academy elementary school,trails and parks as well as The Club at West Creek, featuring a junior Olympic-sized pool, spa, barbeques and more.
Aria
Townhomes
From the Low $300,000s
Approx. 1,782-2,343 Sq. Ft.
3-4 Bedrooms
2.5-2.75 Baths
2-Car Garage
Artisan
Townhomes
From the Low $300,000s
Approx. 1,513-1,997 Sq. Ft.
3 Bedrooms
2.5 Baths
2-Car Garage
Esperto
Townhomes
From the Low $200,000s
Approx. 1,233-1,625 Sq. Ft.
2-3 Bedrooms
2-2.5 Baths
2-Car Garage
Estrella
Single-Family Homes
From the Low $400,000s
Approx. 2,003-2,554 Sq. Ft.
4-5 Bedrooms
2.5-3 Baths
2-Car Garage
Lavello
Single-Family Homes
From the Mid $400,000s
Approx. 2,540-2,910 Sq. Ft.
4-5 Bedrooms plus Lofts
2.5-3 Baths
2- to 3-Car Garage
Located just beyond elegant gated entries, West Hills is a secluded haven offeringspacious single-family homes that feature magnificent views of the mountains and valley. The village offers a welcoming recreation center, West Creek Academy elementary school and miles of Paseo pathways linking residents to the neighboring village of West Creek and all that Valencia has to offer.
Milan
By KB Home
Single-Family Homes
Up to 4,028 Sq. Ft.
RiverVillage was designed to feel like a traditional small town with Americana-themedarchitecture and landscaping throughout. Over half of the 700-acre village remains as it was, including the Santa Clara River that runs through the landand a spectacular 30-acre oak woodland area. This gated village includes stunning single-family residences, a beautiful park, river trails and a future neighborhood retail center as well as a The Club at RiverVillage. This privateresort-style club allows residents to experience luxury living in a destination that's right outside their doors, featuring a pool and jetted spa,indoor/outdoor fireplace, barbeques and more.
Brookville
Single-Family Homes
From the Mid $400,000s
Approx. 2,701-2,910 Sq. Ft.
4-5 Bedrooms
2.5-3 Baths
2 or 3-Car Garage
Heirloom
Single-Family Homes
From the Low $500,000s
Approx. 3,386-3,627 Sq. Ft.
4-5 Bedrooms
3.5-4 Baths
3-Car Garage
Lexington
Single-Family Homes
From the Upper $500,000s
Approx. 2,967-3,820 Sq. Ft.
Call me before viewing to discuss CASHBACK at closing!!
SeanSeckar - Realtor
RE/MAX of Santa Clarita
661-644-2945
RealEstateInSCV@aol.com
http://www.seanseckar.com/
http://www.thescvshortsalespecialist.com/
DRE License # 1336429
Come Home To Valencia
Valencia is a planned community located in Los Angeles County, California in the northwestern corner of the Santa Clarita Valley, adjacent to Interstate 5. In 1987, it was one of the four unincorporated communities (along with Saugus, Newhall, and Canyon Country) that merged to create the city of Santa Clarita, California. Santa Clarita is ranked as one of the top 100 places to live by Money.[1]
Valencia was first planned in the 1960s by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. Development began in the 1960s and continues to the present day. Valencia is notable for its well-landscaped boulevards connecting a balanced mix of apartment buildings, single-family detached homes, shopping centers, office parks and industrial warehouses.
Valencia also has an extensive system of paved pathways with grade separations over and under the boulevards. The pathways are called paseos. These paseos connect the entire community together making it possible to travel around Valencia without having to cross streets at grade. The paseo network is connected to the Santa Clara River Trail which runs east along the Santa Clara River to Canyon Country. Landowners in the Valencia area pay special taxes to maintain landscaping and the paseo system.
Valencia's residential areas are separated into villages. Each village is different from each other, in the ways of lifestyle (see List of Valencia, California's Residential Villages). Almost all of Valencia's villages are close to schools, shopping, etc. In many of the villages, homeowner's associations oversee the quality and upkeep of housing developments ranging in size from a few dozen homes to over a thousand. Many villages also have a Neighborhood Watch program in force.
Valencia is home to the Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park and the adjacent Hurricane Harbor water park. It is also the birthplace of major league baseball player Jon Garland, who used to play for the Chicago White Sox and now plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Actress Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical) attended Valencia High School in the class of 2003. Another actress Jessica D. Stone (Stanley (2001 TV series)) was born in Valencia. Valencia was also a filming place for the Power Rangers series for eight seasons, from 1993 to 2001. Other productions past & present include "Melrose Place","The Riches","Weeds","NCIS", and "CSI".
Major schools in Valencia and its surrounding areas include:
- California Institute of the Arts
- College of the Canyons
- Canyon High School
- Golden Valley High School
- Wm. S. Hart High School
- Saugus High School
- Valencia High School
- West Ranch High School
In Popular Culture
- Valencia was destroyed by a nuclear bomb in the sixth season of the Fox TV series, 24 .
- The set for the gas station explosion in the movie Christine was constructed and filmed on a vacant lot in Valencia.
- The set of the CBS hit series NCIS - Naval Criminal Investigative Service - is located in Valencia
- Weeds was filmed in Valencia and the neighboring community of Stevenson Ranch,CA
- Valencia was featured in a scene in the movie Ocean's thirteen where Brad Pitt was supposed to be executing a vault heist.
Have a question about a home or want to talk about selling yours? Or, if you have any other questions or comments, then feel free to e-mail or call using any of the information below. You will get a response as quickly as possible.
SeanSeckar - Realtor
RE/MAX of Santa Clarita
661-644-2945
RealEstateInSCV@aol.com
http://www.seanseckar.com/
http://www.thescvshortsalespecialist.com/
DRELicense # 1336429
