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Median Price Posts 25.3 Percent Gain, Sales Up 10.4 Percent in Second Quarter, C.A.R. Reports

    LOS ANGELES, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The median price of an existing,
single-family detached home in California set a new record during the second
quarter of 2004 rising 25.3 percent to $461,730, the California Association of
REALTORS(R) (C.A.R.) reported today.
    Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in
California amounted to 635,580 for the second quarter of 2004 at a seasonally
adjusted annualized rate, a 10.4 percent increase from 575,910 in the second
quarter of 2003.
    C.A.R.'s Unsold Inventory Index for existing, single-family detached homes
for the second quarter of 2004 was 1.9 months, compared to a revised
2.1 months for the same period a year ago.  The index indicates the number of
months needed to deplete the supply of homes on the market at the current
sales rate.
    Thirty-year fixed mortgage interest rates averaged 6.13 percent during the
second quarter of 2004, up from 5.51 percent in the second quarter of 2003,
according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.  Adjustable mortgage
interest rates averaged 3.88 percent in the second quarter of 2004, up from
3.66 percent in the second quarter of 2003.
    The median number of days it took to sell a single-family home was 24 days
in the second quarter of 2004, compared to a revised 27 days for the same
period a year ago.
    In a separate report covering more localized statistics generated by
C.A.R. and DataQuick Information Systems, 99.1 percent or 443 of 447 cities
and communities showed an increase in their respective median home prices in
the second quarter of 2004 compared to a year ago.  DataQuick statistics are
based on county records data rather than MLS information.  DataQuick
Information Systems is a subsidiary of Vancouver-based MacDonald Dettwiler and
Associates.
    Note: Large changes in local median home prices typically indicate both
local home price appreciation, and often, large shifts in the composition of
housing market activity.  Some of the variations in median home prices may be
exaggerated due to compositional changes in housing demand.  The DataQuick
tables listing median home prices in California cities and counties are
accessible through C.A.R. Online at localized data collected by C.A.R. and
DataQuick at http://www.car.org/index.php?id=MzM5MzI=.  (The top 10 lists are
generated for incorporated cities with a minimum of 30 recorded sales in the
quarter.)
    Statewide, the 10 cities and communities with the highest median home
prices in California during the second quarter of 2004 were: Beverly Hills,
$1,410,000; Malibu, $1,400,000; Los Altos, $1,350,000; Manhattan Beach,
$1,299,000; Laguna Beach, $1,250,000; Palos Verdes Estates, $1,200,000;
Saratoga, $1,175,000; San Marino, $1,120,000; Burlingame, $1,097,500; Newport
Beach, $1,075,000.
    Statewide, the 10 cities and communities with the greatest median home
price increases in the second quarter of 2004 compared to the same period a
year ago were: Seaside, 61.4 percent; Fillmore, 57.8 percent; Imperial Beach,
52.9 percent; Malibu, 50.5 percent; Beverly Hills, 49.7 percent; Beaumont,
47.5 percent; Port Hueneme, 46.8 percent; Rancho Santa Margarita,
43.1 percent; San Fernando, 42.2 percent; Hesperia, 41.8 percent.

    The California Association of REALTORS(R) (http://www.car.org) is one of
the largest state trade organizations in the United States, with more than
135,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real
estate.  C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.


    REGIONAL SALES AND PRICE ACTIVITY*
    Regional Sales Data and Condo Sales Data Not Seasonally Adjusted

                                  Percent     Percent     Percent   Percent
                                  Change      Change      Change    Change
      2004 Q2                    in Price    in Price    in Sales  in Sales
                                   from        from        from      from
                      Median       Prior       Prior       Prior     Prior
                       Price      Quarter       Year      Quarter     Year
                      Q2/2004     Q1/2004     Q2/2003     Q1/2004   Q2/2003
    Statewide
    Calif. (sf)       $461,730     13.1%       25.3%        6.2%      10.4%
    Calif. (condo)    $364,940     13.8%       29.2%       33.6%      17.3%
    C.A.R. REGION
    Central Valley    $270,650     10.0%       22.7%       41.0%      24.3%
    High Desert       $213,080     15.0%       42.5%       23.4%      12.8%
    Los Angeles       $438,430     11.9%       30.4%       13.4%      -6.9%
    Monterey          $616,950     10.4%       26.1%       54.2%      28.3%
    Nor. Calif.       $346,040     10.7%       24.4%       52.3%      28.8%
    Nor. Wine
     Country          $492,900      7.5%       16.7%       49.5%      11.9%
    Orange County     $655,270     14.4%       38.7%       25.2%      -6.5%
    Palm Springs/
     Lower Desert     $353,110     15.1%       39.8%       35.9%      48.1%
    Riverside/S.B.    $294,470     13.7%       38.5%       18.5%      11.6%
    Sacramento        $308,630     11.0%       27.0%       43.0%      19.6%
    San Diego         $559,650     15.9%       37.5%       36.0%      10.6%
    San Francisco
     Bay              $647,310      7.8%       15.5%       59.3%      18.7%
    San Luis Obispo   $426,110      3.9%       11.7%       40.6%      11.2%
    Santa Barbara
     County           $573,800     23.0%       28.9%       13.3%       1.4%
    Santa Barbara
     South Coast      $1,058,510   10.2%       26.2%       11.2%       3.4%
    North Santa
     Barbara County   $374,410      7.8%       26.0%        8.8%       3.2%
    Santa Clara       $632,050      7.2%       14.6%       63.9%      42.3%
    Ventura           $618,260     17.4%       32.4%       33.2%      -7.5%

     *  Based on closed escrow sales of single-family, detached homes only (no
        condos).  Reported changes in sales activity may overstate actual
        changes because of the small size of individual regional samples.
        Movements in sales prices should not be interpreted as measuring
        changes in the cost of a standard home.  Prices are influenced by
        changes in cost and changes in the characteristics and size of homes
        actually sold.

        sf = single-family, detached home
        Source:  California Association of REALTORS(R)


    Median Prices By Region - Last Quarter, Prior Quarter, and Year Ago
     Quarter
                                  Q2/2004        Q1/2004        Q2/2003
    Statewide
    California (sf)              $461,730      $408,150 r     $368,620 r
    California (condo)           $364,940      $320,650 r     $282,460 r
    C.A.R. REGION
    Central Valley               $270,650      $246,080 r     $220,630 r
    High Desert                  $213,080      $185,290       $149,550
    Los Angeles                  $438,430      $391,960 r     $336,220 r
    Monterey                     $616,950      $558,690       $489,430
    Northern California          $346,040      $312,640       $278,080
    Northern Wine Country        $492,900      $458,330       $422,240
    Orange County                $655,270      $572,550       $472,460 r
    Palm Sprgs/Lwr. Desert       $353,110      $306,840 r     $252,550 r
    Riverside/S. Bernardino      $294,470      $258,890       $212,560
    Sacramento                   $308,630      $278,080 r     $243,030 r
    San Diego                    $559,650      $483,040       $406,950
    San Francisco Bay            $647,310      $600,480 r     $560,240
    San Luis Obispo              $426,110      $410,150       $381,550
    Santa Barbara County         $573,800      $466,380       $445,000 r
    Sta. Barbara So. Coast       $1,058,510    $960,950 r     $838,430 r
    No. Sta. Barbara County      $374,410      $347,240       $297,070
    Santa Clara                  $632,050      $589,860       $551,460
    Ventura                      $618,260      $526,720       $467,010

     r = revised
     Source:  California Association of REALTORS(R)



SOURCE California Association of REALTORS




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    CONTACT:
    Mark Giberson of California Association of
    REALTORS, +1-213-739-8304, markg@car.org