Many people have asked us about the current real estate headlines and what they mean to buyers and sellers. Keep in mind that the media has been making dire predictions about real estate for decades:
 
To be newsworthy, a story must be immediate. That’s why the current real estate market is such a hot media topic and why the long view doesn’t get much ink or airtime. That’s too bad, because that’s where you’ll find the most compelling real estate story of all.
 
1969 “The goal of owning a home seems to be getting beyond the reach of more and more  Americans. The typical new house today costs about $28,000.”- Business Week
1977“The median price of a home today is approaching $50,000. Housing experts predict price rises in the future won’t be that great.”-National Business
 
1985 Median Home price $152,720 “The golden-age of risk free run-ups in home prices is gone.” -Money Magazine
 
1996 Median home price $194,382. Defense cuts have triggered steep home price declines. “A home is where the bad investment is.”-San Francisco Examiner
 In the three years following the last statement, California home prices rose 19.7% wiping out the losses of the early ‘90s. Ending the decade with a net gain of 9.35%.
The media continues to play up bad economic news, including real problems in the lending marketplace. The truth is, a home remains the most enduring investment most of us will ever make.
That’s because the return goes so very far beyond financial rewards. To own a home is to make a priceless investment to our lives—and a confident affirmation about our future.
After 37 years it should be obvious Orange County real estate always goes up. Go ahead wait if you want to believe all the doomsayers on the TV, newspapers, and magazines. If you smart you will look around and see how low home prices are today, excellent interest rates, and a selection homes we haven’t see in 12 years. Buy Now! Or you can wait like so many people did in the year 2000.
 
 Californina Existing
Single Family Home*
Annual Average Sales Price
1985 $119,860
1995 $178,600
2000 $241,350
2001 $252,350
2002 $391,600
2003 $316,130
2004 $371,520
2005 $450,990
2006 $556,640
 
We would like to here what your impressions are of the current market. jim@carolandjim.com