Per foreclosureradar.com, September 2012 California Notice of Defaults were down 20.7 percent from the prior month, and down 48.1 percent compared to last year. There has been speculation that the banks would rush to clear inventory before the CA Homeowner Bill of Rights takes affect in January 2013, causing an increase in the number of foreclosures. Clearly this is not the case as we continue to see the number of Foreclosure Starts decline. Notice of Trustee Sales remains basically flat, up 1.9 percent from the prior month.
Tag Archives: trends
Where Homes Are Selling the Fastest
According to Realtor.com data, the average number of days homes are spending on the market has dropped by nearly 10% nationwide in the last year. The average U.S. home now spends 84 days on the market.
But in some housing markets, homes are selling even faster, spending an average of 45 days or less on the market before they sell. What’s more, many of these housing markets are having not only some of the speediest home sales but also some of the largest increases in median home prices compared to a year ago.
Energy Credits
Two IRS tax credits for home energy improvements:
The Non-business Energy Property Credit: Homeowners who improve the energy efficiency of their homes, including adding insulation, energy-efficient exterior windows and doors and certain roofs, can receive a tax credit of up to $500. The credit is based on 10% of the item’s cost. Quality improvements must have been made before January 1, 2012.
Does your housing take up half your income?
A new study by the Center for Housing Policy, entitled Housing Landscape 2012, found that the share of working households paying more than half their income for housing rose significantly between 2008 and 2010 for both renters and owners. This annual report explored the last Census data on housing costs and income, including housing cost burden data from the 50 largest US metropolitan areas, all 50 states, and the District of Columbia. The report found that nearly one in four working households in the US spends more than half of total income on housing.