Buyers Take Notice: Housing Starts Fall To 1-Year Low In May 2010

For home buyers in Riverside , Corona, Chino, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Temecula/Murrieta/Menifee and the enitre Inland Empire area, this should create a sense of urgency.Housing starts June 2008 - May 2010

Single-family housing starts plummeted to a one-year low in May, just 30 days after soaring to a 20-month high.  It’s no wonder home builders are confused.

Against a revised April figure, Housing Starts fell 97,000 units in May, a figure representing almost one-fifth of the total market size.

It’s the worst showing for Housing Starts since May 2009, a surprise to builders and economists alike.

Furthermore, single-family Building Permits plunged in May, too — down 10 percent from April. A permit is a certification from local government that authorizes home construction.

Why is this important?

Housing permits are a precursor to Housing Starts with 82% of homes starting construction within 60 days of permit-issuance. Fewer permits, therefore, directly reduces the number of new homes coming to market in the coming months.

Home prices are based on supply and demand and supply appears to be falling about the same time that economists predict a surge in home demandIt could spell rising home prices and a complete loss of negotiation power with home sellers.

For now, though, home affordability remains high with properties cheap and mortgage rates near all-time lows. If you plan to buy a home later this year, the May 2010 Housing Starts data may be a reason to move up your timeframe a bit.  Call me for a quick pre-approval.

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