During September of this year, the nine Bay Area counties saw a 19 percent drop in homes sold compared to the same period last year, according to Irvine-based research firm CoreLogic.
This is despite the median home sale price for the area in September being almost 2 percent less than the month before.1. San Mateo — $1,300,5002. San Francisco — $1,300,0003. Santa Clara — $1,061,0004. Marin — $1,050,0005. Alameda — $824,2506. Napa — $633,0007. Sonoma — $609,2508. Contra Costa — $600,0009. Solano — $430,000
- San Mateo — $1,300,500
- San Francisco — $1,300,000
- Santa Clara — $1,061,000
- Marin — $1,050,000
- Alameda — $824,250
- Napa — $633,000
- Sonoma — $609,250
- Contra Costa — $600,000
- Solano — $430,000
High interest rates are being cited by experts as a reason for the slowdown. “Interest rates will likely rise and [worsen] housing affordability,” said Steve White, president for the trade group California Association of Realtors.
The association projects homes sales to remain weak in 2019 with sales of single-family homes dropping by 3.3 percent, compared to 2018.
In September, California’s average mortgage was at $512,500 — the highest in the nation — according to data from Washington, D.C.-based Mortgage Bankers Association. In contrast, the national mortgage average was $290,500.
Source: CoreLogic, California Association of Realtors, Mortgage Bankers Association