California cannot continue to sustain skyrocketing housing prices that have ballooned over the last few years. The industry has been moving at a torrid pace to keep up with demand, but we expect prices will finally level off to a manageable level. |
During the '70s, a long list of state, local and federal regulations came into being that cumulatively relegated too many Californians to a lifetime of renting. |
I just think it's spring. Basically, there are people who have property and want to start (work) knowing they have a full year of good weather. |
It really has to do mostly with conversions and with projects (in) downtown (San Diego). The conversions and the projects downtown that were recently completed have large standing inventories. As a result, they are giving concessions. |
It remains hot. It's somewhat amazing. |
It's a great time to buy a condo. |
It's all in the affordable sectors. We don't see any major gains taking place in that area because the barriers to entry are so great throughout the state. |
It's really a fluke in the market. |
Materials for construction are part of a world market, and the demand created in Louisiana is virtually insignificant. A large part of the reason why materials will go up are related to futures markets on commodities. |
One out of four new homes built in Riverside (County) goes to someone working in San Diego County. |
Rita won't have anywhere near the impact of Katrina. |
That means new-home prices will slow down. |
The annual demand for new homes in California continues to be in the 240,000 range, but the home building industry is able to provide only 80 percent of the total need. |
The difference represents the inability of the industry to provide moderately priced housing for the first-time homebuyer, largely due to the continuing constraints in the developable land supply in the coastal urban cores of the state and the burgeoning extractions demanded by local government. |
The reality is that there should not be an impact. However, many of the material suppliers and subcontractors are using that as an excuse for raising prices. |