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Erica Solvig • The Desert Sun • May 29, 2008April housing sales strongest since September 2005April’s housing sales marked the strongest year-over-year showing the Coachella Valley has seen since September 2005.The 912 homes sold in April reflect a 3.8 percent drop from the year before - a marked improvement compared to typical year-over-year declines that have hovered around 30 percent.The sales also mark a 25.1 percent increase over March, according to a monthly analysis of the valley DataQuick Information Systems released this week.A bulk of April’s sales were resale homes, which made year-over-year gains.”We’ve seen little baby steps, little baby steps (in the market upswing). Now you’re starting to see full strides,” said Sam Schenkl, executive officer of the Palm Springs Regional Association of Realtors, which represents 1,500 agents and brokers.DataQuick’s April analysis also shows:The resale market continues to drive housing sales.A total of 496 existing single-family homes sold, up 2.5 percent from April 2007. There were 276 resale condos sold in April, up 1.5 percent from a year ago.New construction continues to struggle, though sales rose over previous months. A total of 140 new homes were sold. That’s a 27.1 percent decline from April 2007.April’s sales continue an upward swing that began in the fall. It’s the highest number of monthly sales since July.Experts credit renewed confidence from investors, notably Canadians, for helping boosting April’s sales.Many visitors who have enjoyed the desert all season want to buy before they leave and summer starts.”People have been holding off; now they’re ready to make the move,” Schenkl said.

I was just working on the sales statistics for the month of April…it brought a smile on my face…The sales are up and it seems that we are on the same trend for May. Canadians have helped us a lot by buying during the winter, prices did come down but not drastically and the American buyer is getting slowly his confidence back. Prices will not drop lower..if anything we will see now offers at almost listing prices, the worst is behind us. For us realtors we sure went trough tough times. But I kept working and I closed deals and I spoke to clients and I was busy . I certainly did not sit home and complained. I am a positive , optimistic person and I helped my clients get good deals because I understood the market and could show them the way. Our summer is going to be hot in every way!!

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I would say that if we look at our numbers, it looks like our market (here locally Palm Springs and the area) we are doing OK…Yes we have a larger number of sales, yes prices are low but not catastrophic and yes there is demand. But again we are in a resort  area, this is our season and of course a large number of buyers from Canada made it happen and still will I think until way into the summer!! (they think and maybe they are right that the prices will drop in the summer). So nationwide not looking good ….but here I cannot complain I did not have less sales this year so far than the years before and still quite a few up ahead coming. This is shown in the NAR (National Association of Realtors article posted in the “real estate news” page on my website :  http://www.claudinereal.com/Real_Estate_News.htmIn our area we might have already touched bottom and we are slowly readjusting. I am seeing for the last two weeks US buyers , though still shy, attempting to get back in the market and understanding that writing an offer will get you the best price and not just looking at the listing prices. The interest rates and the Jumbo loans limit up lifted is certainly making it more attractive to buy. Waiting for “a better” opportunity and timing might just put you there where we were a few years when all the buyers “woke up” at the same time and got into the market at the same time and create “the bubble”. Browse the site and look at all the listings is country clubs in the area : http://www.claudinereal.com/Country_Clubs.htm  I would love to read your comments.

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