LOS ANGELES (Feb. 23) – The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) debuted its Pending Home Sales Index and released key distressed property data.

Pending home sales index:

Pending home sales in California increased in January, according to C.A.R.’s Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)*.  The index was 93.6 in January, rising 13.6 percent from December’s index of 82.4, based on contracts signed in January.  Pending home sales are forward-looking indicators of future home sales activity, providing information on the future direction of the market.

“Pending sales typically rise in January from a seasonally slow November and December,” said C.A.R. President Beth L. Peerce.  “January’s pending sales should be reflected in higher existing sales activity in February and March and serve as a precursor to the spring home buying season.”

Distressed housing market data:

• The total share of all distressed property types sold statewide in January was 54 percent, up from 50 percent in December, but down from 56 percent in January 2010.
• Conventional sales made up the remaining share at 46 percent in January, down from 50 percent in December, but up from 44 percent in January 2010.
• Of the distressed properties sold statewide, the total share of REO (real estate-owned) sales was 32 percent in January, up from 30 percent in December, but was down from 37 percent in January 2010.
• The statewide share of short sales increased to 22 percent in January, up from 20 percent in December and up from 19 percent in January 2010.
• The median price of homes sold in the state differed dramatically depending on the property type, with non-distressed properties selling for much higher prices than short sales and foreclosures.
• The statewide median price of conventional properties sold in January was $367,150, 38 percent higher than the short sale median price of $265,500 recorded in January, and 85 percent higher than the January REO median price of $198,000.

Multimedia:

• View a video of C.A.R. Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young discussing highlights of the January sales and price report, which was released Feb. 15.
• View a chart of pending sales compared with closed sales.
• View a chart showing the price differential by sales type.

Share of Distressed Sales to Total Sales

Type of Sale	Jan-10	Dec-10	Jan-11
REOs (real estate-owned)	37%	30%	32%
Short Sales	19%	20%	22%
Total Distressed Sales	56%	50%	54%

Distressed Sales by Select Counties (Percent of total sales)

County/Region	Jan-10	Dec-10	Jan-11
CA	56	50	54
San Diego	34	28	33
Marin	37	34	43
Orange	41	38	43
San Luis Obispo	49	46	47
Los Angeles	54	50	54
Mendocino	49	57	55
Napa	68	54	59
Sonoma	54	55	61
Kern	69	71	70
Sacramento	68	66	73
Riverside	78	67	73
San Bernardino	76	72	74
Solano	76	74	81

*Note:  C.A.R.’s pending sales information is generated from a survey of more than 70 associations of REALTORS® and MLSs throughout the state.  Pending home sales are forward-looking indicators of future home sales activity, offering solid information on future changes in the direction of the market.  A sale is listed as pending after a seller has accepted a sales contract on a property.  The majority of pending home sales usually becomes closed sales transactions one to two months later.  The year 2008 was used as the benchmark for the pending homes sales index. An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2008.