Trends:

Original data from California Association of Realtors, published in The Contra Costa Times 5/10/04

·       37 years ago: 1968: Housing: CA Medium $23K: $20K nationally; AffordiablilityND

·       30 years ago: 1975: Housing: CA Medium $40K: $35K nationally; AffordiablilityND

·       20 years ago: 1985: Housing: CA Medium $110K: $60K nationally; Affordiablility: CA 27%; 42% nationally

·       14 years ago: 1991: Housing: CA Medium $200K: $95K nationally; Affordiablility: CA 25%; 52% nationally

·       9 years ago: 1996: Housing: CA Medium $175K(12.5% Decrease from 1991): $110K nationally; Affordiablility: CA 40%; 56% nationally

·       5 years ago: 2000: Housing: CA Medium $250K: $140K nationally; Affordiablility: CA 31%; 53% nationally

·       2 years ago: 2003: Housing: CA Medium $373K: $170K nationally; Affordiablility: CA 26%; 58% nationally

·       12/2005 : Housing: CA Medium $548K: $233K nationally; Contra Costa County-$559K (19.4% ‘05Yr/’04Yr. appreciation) and Alameda County-$599K (20.2% ‘05Yr/’04Yr. appreciation).

·       Affordiablility: CA 14%(19% in 12/04); 58% nationally-(CAR, National Assoc. Home Builders).  Rates expected to rise to 6.9% by year end, (NAR 2/10/06)

·       Business Cycles: Increased number of days on market coupled with 12 months of inventory Buyers market, easier to buy harder to sell; 6 months of inventory on market, market is undergoing a change; <6 months of  housing inventory, seller’s market, harder to buy easier to sell.

Today's Market:

• July/2008:   Housing:  CA Medium $402K; $229K Nationally; Contra Costa County-$350K (41.60% decrease) and Alameda County-$440k (27.30% decrease)