The Petalumahomes.com Realty WebLog

The Petalumahomes.com Realty WebLog header image 2

C.A.R. reports entry-level housing affordability at 33 percent in California

Robert Ramirez Broker-Associate Coldwell Banker 707 762-5611

February 22nd, 2008 · No Comments

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 19)—The percentage of households that could afford to buy an entry-level home in California stood at 33 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007, compared with 25 percent for the same period a year ago, according to a report released today by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.).

C.A.R.’s First-time Buyer Housing Affordability Index (FTB-HAI) measures the percentage of households that can afford to purchase an entry-level home in California. C.A.R. also reports first-time buyer indexes for regions and select counties within the state. The Index is the most fundamental measure of housing well-being for first-time buyers in the state.The minimum household income needed to purchase an entry-level home at $411,170 in California in the fourth quarter of 2007 was $82,200, based on an adjustable interest rate of 6.21 percent and assuming a 10 percent down payment. First-time buyers typically purchase a home equal to 85 percent of the prevailing median price. The monthly payment including taxes and insurance was $2,740 for the fourth quarter of 2007.

At 54 percent, the High Desert region was the most affordable in the state, followed by the Sacramento region at 53 percent. Monterey was the least affordable region in the state at 20 percent, followed by the Santa Barbara region at 21 percent.

Leading the way…® in real estate news and information for more than 100 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States, with nearly 200,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.

C.A.R. FIRST-TIME BUYER HOUSING AFFORDABILITY INDEX *

 

 

Q4 2007

Q3 2007

 

Q4 2006

 

California

33

24

 

25

 

California - Condos

42

38

 

37

 

United States

65

62

r

62

 

C.A.R. Region

 

 

 

 

 

Central Valley

NA

NA

 

39

 

High Desert

54

48

 

41

 

Los Angeles County

27

20

 

19

 

Monterey Region

20

16

 

19

 

Northern California

42

38

 

37

 

Northern Wine Country

33

24

 

24

 

Orange County

28

24

 

24

 

Palm Sprgs/Lwr Desert

38

33

 

33

 

Riverside/SBernardino

46

39

 

34

 

Sacramento County

53

46

 

41

 

San Diego County

31

24

 

23

 

San Francisco Bay

23

18

 

25

 

San Luis Obispo County

28

20

 

22

 

Santa Barbara Area

21

11

 

18

r

Santa Clara County

24

21

 

29

 

Southern California

33

24

 

25

 

Ventura County

30

25

 

26

 

COUNTY

 

 

 

 

 

Alameda

27

23

 

25

 

Contra Costa

22

16

 

23

r

Fresno

47

44

 

42

 

Marin

22

20

 

22

 

Merced

51

48

 

41

 

Riverside

42

36

 

34

 

San Bernardino

46

44

 

37

r

San Francisco

20

15

 

19

 

San Joaquin

NA

NA

 

34

 

San Mateo

19

17

 

20

 

Santa Cruz

22

17

 

21

 

Sonoma

36

25

 

25

 

Stanislaus

NA

NA

 

37

 

* — percentage of California households that can afford to purchase a median-priced home

r – revised

Source:  CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

 

 

Housing
Affordability Index

Entry-Level
Price
Q4 2007

Monthly
Payment
Including
Taxes &
Insurance

Minimum
Qualifying
Income

California

33

$411,170

$2,740

$82,200

California - Condos

42

$340,650

$2,270

$68,100

United States

65

$175,270

$1,170

$35,100

C.A.R. Region

 

 

 

 

Central Valley

NA

 

 

 

High Desert

54

$218,880

$1,460

$43,800

Los Angeles County

27

$433,200

$2,890

$86,700

Monterey Region

20

$591,200

$3,940

$118,200

Northern California

42

$306,620

$2,040

$61,200

Northern Wine Country

33

$431,270

$2,880

$86,400

Orange County

28

$558,770

$3,730

$111,900

Palm Sprgs/Lwr Desert

38

$285,970

$1,910

$57,300

Riverside/SBernardino

46

$287,330

$1,920

$57,600

Sacramento County

53

$252,920

$1,690

$50,700

San Diego County

31

$444,480

$2,960

$88,800

San Francisco Bay

23

$660,660

$4,400

$132,300

San Luis Obispo County

28

$421,550

$2,810

$84,300

Santa Barbara Area

21

$555,770

$3,710

$111,300

Santa Clara County

24

$718,530

$4,790

$143,700

Southern California

33

$407,580

$2,720

$81,600

Ventura County

30

$530,880

$3,540

$106,200

COUNTY

 

 

 

 

Alameda

27

$564,060

$3,760

$112,800

Contra Costa

22

$673,230

$4,490

$134,700

Fresno

47

$218,810

$1,460

$43,800

Marin

22

$851,900

$5,680

$170,400

Merced

51

$201,450

$1,340

$40,200

Riverside

42

$298,770

$1,990

$59,700

San Bernardino

46

$262,080

$1,750

$52,500

San Francisco

20

$710,400

$4,740

$142,200

San Joaquin

NA

NA

 

 

San Mateo

19

$790,500

$5,270

$158,100

Santa Cruz

22

$622,630

$4,150

$124,500

Sonoma

36

$424,050

$2,830

$84,900

Stanislaus

NA

NA

 

 

Tags: California News · Robert Ramirez

0 responses so far ↓

  • There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.

Leave a Comment