Los Angeles Real Estate Blog

The Torrance CA Real Estate Market Authority

From the desk of Greg M. Ingerson, Attorney At Law

During the Spring season, Torrance home sellers should begin to see a gradual decrease in the number of showings and inquiries for their home over the next few weeks.

Last month, the MLS summary showed that there were 316 homes for sale in Torrance and 56 sold. Translation, under current market conditions, in any given month, you have about a 1 in 6 chance of selling your home.

In other words, when pricing your home, the practice of adding a "Pad" or "Cushion" to make room for negotiating is not advisable in this market.

As an informed Home Seller, you should understand that with an increase in inventory “supply” there is a corresponding decrease in demand.

Home Sellers should pay close attention to “Current Buyers.” Similar homes that have recently “Sold” tell us what people are willing to pay for this kind of home, in this area, at this time.

Information about similar homes “Currently for Sale” tells us what we are competing against. Buyers considering your home are also inspecting these homes.

Moreover, “Expired” listings tell us what people are not willing to pay for this kind of home, in this area, at this time.

Home Sellers in this market should realize that buyers in today's market will not overpay for a home and even if they would, the bank will not loan more than the home is worth when it doesn’t appraise.

So what can we expect? Demand should decrease a little over the coming weeks at least until the “sub-prime” mortgage meltdown crisis is figured out.

The Numbers Don’t Lie, Here Is What's Happening:
On April 1, 2008, there were 316 active listings for sale in the Torrance Market (Areas 125-135): 186 Houses; 69 Townhouses; and 61 Condominiums.

In the past year, there were 861 homes sold in Torrance (between 4.01.07 and 3.31.08): 571 Houses; 178 Townhouses; and 112 Condominiums.

What this means is that on a yearly average, the inventory is currently turning over at a rate of approximately 2.7 times per year.

Broken down even further by specific property type, we find that given the current absorption rates, we can expect Houses to be on the market an average of 117 days, Townhouses will be on the market an average of 140 days, and Condominiums should be on the market an average of 196 days.

Market Recap for the Month of March, 2008
When one compares the March results with the yearly result, we find that there is an approximately 5.6 month inventory of homes for sale in Torrance.

Broken down by specific property type, we find that there is a 2.7 month inventory of Houses, a 3.8 month inventory of Townhouses, and a 8.7 month inventory of Condominiums on the market in Torrance. (Based on current absorption rates).

How should a Seller approach the market? The key in today's market is proper pricing. If you are thinking of selling, now may be the best time to put your Home on the market for the foreseeable future before any additional interest rate increases are implemented.

How should a Buyer approach the market? For buyers, this is a good time to be in the market while sellers are willing to negotiate price and while interest rates are still low. For those hoping that the market will cool, any advantage obtained by waiting for prices to decrease may be offset by higher interest rates.

For more information regarding the Torrance and/or greater Los Angeles Real Estate Markets, please visit our website at http://www.LAHomeSearch.com for FREE information or give our office a call at 310.908.2172 for Free Recorded Information 24 Hours a Day.

Sell Your Home In 120 Days or We’ll Sell It For Free
Buy a Home With NO Money Down
FREE Seller Reports Sell Your Home Fast And For Top Dollar
FREE Buyer Reports – Get The Most Home For Your Money
FREE Over The Net Home Evaluation
Find Out What The House Down The Street Sold For
Virtual Tours
And much more 

Torrance Home Sales by the Numbers
56 sold in March 2008
97 sold in March 2007

316 Current Active Listings
186 Houses
69 Townhouses
61 Condos

56 Sold in March 2008
31 Houses
18 Townhouses
7 Condos

35 Expired in March 2008
24 Houses
11 Townhouses
0 Condos

88 Contingent & Pending in March 2008
69 Houses
11 Townhouses
8 Condos

97 Sold in March 2007
60 Houses
26 Townhouses
11 Condos

88 Sold in March 2006
53 Houses
22 Townhouses
13 Condos

65 Sold in March 2005
50 Houses
7 Townhouses
8 Condos

85 Sold in March 2004
56 Houses
18 Townhouses
11 Condos

111 Sold in March 2003
77 Houses
25 Townhouses
9 Condos

87 Sold in March 2002
63 Houses
14 Townhouses
10 Condos

85 Sold in March 2001
60 Houses
18 Townhouses
7 Condos

115 Sold in March 2000
91 Houses
17 Townhouses
7 Condos

10 Expired in March 2007
7 Houses
2 Townhouses
1 Condos

20 Expired in March 2006
15 Houses
4 Townhouses
1 Condos

4 Expired in March 2005
1 Houses
1 Townhouses
2 Condos

8 Expired in March 2004
6 Houses
2 Townhouses
0 Condos

12 Expired in March 2003
10 Houses
2 Townhouses
0 Condos

8 Expired in March 2002
6 Houses
1 Townhouses
1 Condos

9 Expired in March 2001
8 Houses
0 Townhouses
1 Condos

17 Expired in March 2000
16 Houses
1 Townhouses
0 Condos

To search for bank owned properties on the market go to http://www.LAHomeSearch.com

To search for Southern California Real Estate including real estate in Beverly Hills, Brentwood, santa Monica, and Malibu go to http://www.LAHomeSearch.com

For Los Angeles Real Estate go to http://www.LAHomeSearch.com

To search for "For Sale By Owner" properties in the Los Angeles Real Estate Market visit http://www.FSBO.LAHomeSearch.com

Thinking of Selling? To get the most Money, Fastest Sale, and the Fewest Problems, visit http://www.LAHomeSearch.com

About the Author
Greg M. Ingerson, Attorney At Law & Real Estate Broker, is a real estate Broker with LA Home Search in Los Angeles, California. To learn more about the Los Angeles Real Estate Market, please visit http://www.LAHomeSearch.com