U.S. Median Home Price in October Increases to Highest Level Since September 2008, Still 19 Percent Below 2006 Peak

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Nov 26, 2014) - RealtyTrac^® (www.realtytrac.com), the nation's leading source for comprehensive housing data, today released its October 2014 Residential & Foreclosure Sales Report, which shows the median sales price of U.S. single family homes and condos in October was $193,000, up 2 percent from the previous month and up 16 percent from a year ago to the highest level since September 2008 -- a 73-month high.

"This U.S. recovery is largely being driven by investors, and as the lower-priced, often distressed inventory most appealing to investors dries up in a given market, investor activity will slow down in that market and move to other markets with more ideal inventory available," said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. "This has created a ripple-effect recovery moving out from traditional investor hot spots such as Phoenix, Atlanta and many California markets and into markets such as Charlotte, Columbus, Ohio, Dallas and Oklahoma City.

"More than 32 percent of all single family homes and condos purchased so far in 2014 are non-owner occupied compared to 68 percent that are owner-occupied," Blomquist added. "That is the highest share of investor purchases since we began tracking in 2001."

The October median sales price -- which included both distressed sales of homes in some stage of foreclosure and non-distressed sales -- was up 37 percent from a trough of $141,000 in March 2012 but still 19 percent below the previous peak of $237,537 in August 2006. Among 97 metropolitan statistical areas with a population of 500,000 or more with sufficient home price data, 20 have reached new post-recession median sales price peaks in 2013 or 2014, including Denver, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Ohio, and Charlotte.

"Home prices have risen substantially in the lower price ranges -- generally under $400,000. That has led most underwater properties out of trouble," said Phil Shell, Managing Broker of RE/MAX Alliance, covering the Denver market, where median home prices reached a new post-recession peak in July 2014. "We are seeing a 'compression' in the market because we are experiencing record low inventories. Prices on the low end are coming up, and while the high end is not necessarily coming down, it has flat-lined. So we are seeing prices compress in the middle. A homeowner wanting to move up into the market at $550,000 or above will find substantial value and a terrific opportunity."

The median sales price of distressed homes -- those in the foreclosure process or bank-owned -- was $128,701 nationwide in October, 36 percent below the median sales price of non-distressed properties, $200,000. But distressed home prices increased at a faster pace, up 18 percent from a year ago while non-distressed home prices were up 11 percent during the same time period.

"The demand is strong for a lessening distressed inventory and pushing prices to their highest level since 2008," said Mike Pappas, CEO and president of the Keyes Company, covering the South Florida market. "Additionally, due to the long delay in our judicial foreclosure system we are now seeing a higher quality of distressed inventory being liquidated, although overall home prices have begun to gradually level off over the past few months as the market normalizes."

Markets with highest home price appreciation
Among metro areas with a population of 500,000 or more and sufficient home price data, those with the biggest annual increase in median sales price were Toledo, Ohio (up 33 percent), Detroit (up 27 percent), Cleveland (up 21 percent), McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas (up 21 percent), and Dayton, Ohio (up 20 percent).

Other major markets with double-digit appreciation compared to a year ago included Memphis, Tenn. (up 18 percent), Austin, Texas (up 17 percent), Miami (up 16 percent), Houston (up 16 percent), Cincinnati (up 15 percent), and Chicago (up 15 percent).

"While price appreciation has leveled off month to month, home prices have increased significantly from a year ago and we expect this trend to continue," said Craig King, COO of Chase International, covering the Lake Tahoe and Reno, Nev., markets. The median sales price in Reno was unchanged from September to October but up 15 percent from a year ago -- the 29^th consecutive month with a year-over-year increase in the market.

"A number of things have lined up regionally to provide game changing growth as we look forward," continued King. "The world is aware that Tesla is making a move in to Northern Nevada with their Gigafactory, but there are other huge projects on tap as well. Collectively, these projects could account for population gains of 20 to 25 percent in the region over the next four to five years. With limited inventory the demand for housing will be unprecedented."

Markets with accelerating home price appreciation
Home price appreciation accelerated in 45 of the 97 (46 percent) metro areas nationwide with a population of half a million or more and with sufficient home price data.

Markets with the fastest-accelerating appreciation included Cincinnati (15 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 4 percent annual depreciation last year), Cleveland (21 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 2 percent annual appreciation last year), Nashville (13 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 1 percent annual appreciation last year), Charlotte (10 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 1 percent annual depreciation last year), and Columbus, Ohio (14 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 3 percent annual appreciation last year.

Top 12 Markets with Fastest Accelerating Home Price Appreciation
Market	October 2014 Median Sales Price	Oct 2014 Annual HPA	Oct 2013 Annual HPA
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	$151,000	21%	-6%
Dayton, OH	$100,000	20%	-1%
Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN	$127,000	15%	-4%
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH	$114,900	21%	2%
Akron, OH	$114,000	17%	-2%
Toledo, OH	$100,000	33%	15%
Tulsa, OK	$135,000	11%	-5%
Lancaster, PA	$169,900	11%	-5%
Honolulu, HI	$480,000	10%	-4%
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$170,000	13%	1%
Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC	$164,000	10%	-1%
Columbus, OH	$147,000	14%	3%

Other major markets with accelerating home price appreciation were Chicago (15 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 11 percent a year ago), Dallas (11 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 7 percent a year ago), Pittsburgh (8 percent annual appreciation compared to 5 percent a year ago), Seattle (10 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 7 percent a year ago), Tampa (15 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 12 percent a year ago) and Baltimore (2 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 0 percent a year ago).

"The continued rise in Seattle median home prices is largely a result of a strong local economy, low housing supply, and high buyer demand," said OB Jacobi, president of Windermere Real Estate, covering the Seattle market. The percentage of distressed home sales in Seattle has returned to pre-mortgage crisis levels, with activity being driven by the hardships that have always instigated short sales, such as job loss, divorce, illness, and job relocation. Most of the distressed properties have shifted into the outlying areas around Seattle and are selling for well under the median home price." 

Markets with slowing home price appreciation
Home price appreciation slowed compared to a year ago in 52 of the 97 (54 percent) metro areas nationwide with a population of half a million or more and with sufficient home price data.

Some of the fastest-appreciating markets in 2013 have seen substantial slowdowns in price appreciation this year, including Phoenix (6 percent annual appreciation in October 2014 compared to 25 percent a year ago), Los Angeles (9 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 24 percent a year ago), Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura in Southern California (7 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 24 percent a year ago), Jacksonville, Fla. (4 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 23 percent a year ago), Boston (3 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 21 percent a year ago), and San Diego (8 percent this year compared to 19 percent a year ago).

Last Year's Highest Home Price Appreciation Markets Losing Steam
Market	October 2014 Median Sales Price	Oct 2014 Annual HPA	Oct 2013 Annual HPA
Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI	$130,000	27%	38%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$625,000	12%	34%
Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA	$285,000	10%	30%
Modesto, CA	$215,000	16%	28%
Stockton, CA	$245,000	20%	27%
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$250,000	10%	27%
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX	$219,900	16%	27%
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA	$155,000	13%	25%
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	$185,000	6%	25%
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA	$492,000	9%	24%
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$480,000	7%	24%
Bakersfield, CA	$170,000	12%	24%
Boise City-Nampa, ID	$185,000	0%	23%
Jacksonville, FL	$130,000	4%	23%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$692,000	11%	23%
Orlando-Kissimmee, FL	$149,900	11%	22%
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH	$300,000	3%	21%
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	$145,000	12%	20%
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL	$180,000	16%	20%
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA	$440,000	8%	19%
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV	$171,600	11%	19%

Other major markets with decelerating home price appreciation in October were New York (1 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 4 percent a year ago), Philadelphia (4 percent annual depreciation this year compared to 5 percent annual appreciation a year ago), Houston (16 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 27 percent a year ago), Miami (16 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 20 percent a year ago), Atlanta (13 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 25 percent a year ago), and San Francisco (12 percent annual appreciation this year compared to 34 percent a year ago).

Las Vegas, Central California and Central Florida post highest distressed sale share
Short sales and distressed sales -- in foreclosure or bank-owned -- combined accounted for 13.8 percent of all residential property sales in October, up slightly from 13.7 percent the previous month, but down from 14.7 percent in October 2013.

Markets with the highest percentage of distressed and short sales combined were Las Vegas (33.6 percent), Stockton, Calif., (33.6 percent), Modesto, Calif., (31.7 percent), Lakeland, Fla., (28.9 percent), and Orlando (28.4 percent).

20 Markets with 20 Percent Distressed & Short Sale Share
Metro Area		October 2014 Distressed & Short Sales Share		October 2013 Distressed & Short Sales Share
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV		33.6%		37.2%
Stockton, CA		33.6%		32.7%
Modesto, CA		31.7%		35.8%
Lakeland, FL		28.9%		32.9%
Orlando-Kissimmee, FL		28.4%		29.9%
Jacksonville, FL		28.2%		27.0%
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL		28.0%		27.6%
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL		26.8%		26.7%
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA		26.0%		27.5%
Bakersfield, CA		25.9%		26.8%
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL		23.9%		26.3%
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL		23.7%		29.9%
Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI		23.4%		28.4%
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ		23.2%		23.4%
Fresno, CA		22.8%		22.0%
Toledo, OH		22.3%		17.3%
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA		22.0%		25.0%
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH		21.2%		25.7%
Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA		20.5%		21.3%
Akron, OH		19.9%		27.5%

Short sales share close to pre-recession levels nationwide, up from a year ago in 12 states
Short sales accounted for 5.0 percent of all residential property sales in October, unchanged from the previous month and a year ago and not far above the pre-recession average of 4.5 percent a month in 2006.

Markets with the highest percentage of short sales were in Orlando (14.2 percent), Lakeland, Fla., (13.0 percent), Palm bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Fla., (11.8 percent), Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla., (11.8 percent), and Las Vegas (11.5 percent).

Twelve states saw an increase in short sales share compared to a year ago, including New Jersey (7.1 percent compared to 4.6 percent a year ago), Illinois (9.9 percent compared to 6.6 percent a year ago), Maryland (9.3 percent compared to 7.2 percent a year ago), Ohio (5.4 percent compared to 4.7 percent a year ago), Nevada (10.8 percent compared to 9.8 percent a year ago), California (4.6 percent compared to 4.3 percent a year ago), Michigan (6.5 percent compared to 6.2 percent a year ago) and Arizona (5.8 percent compared to 5.6 percent a year ago).

Bank-owned sales share matches lowest level since January 2011
Sales of bank-owned properties nationwide accounted for 7.5 percent of all U.S. residential sales in October, the same as previous month but down from 9.1 percent a year ago. The share of bank-owned sales in September and October was the lowest share since January 2011.

Markets with the highest percentage of bank-owned sales were in Stockton, Calif. (23.5 percent), Modesto, Calif., (19.3 percent), Bakersfield, Calif., (18.8 percent), Las Vegas (18.6 percent), Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif., (18.3 percent), and Phoenix (16.4 percent).

"Distressed sales remain a small percentage of the overall marketplace in Southern California as prices stabilize and market health continues to improve," said Chris Pollinger, senior vice president of sales at First Team Real Estate, covering the Southern California market.

Foreclosure auction sales share increases most in Midwest, Rust Belt cities
Sales at the public foreclosure auction accounted for 1.3 percent of all U.S. residential property sales in October, up from 1.2 percent in September and up from 0.7 percent in October 2013.

Markets with the highest percentage of sales at foreclosure auction were Lakeland, Fla. (5.4 percent), Orlando (4.2 percent), Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville (4.1 percent), Miami (4.1 percent), Tampa (4.0 percent) and Las Vegas (3.5 percent).

Markets with the biggest annual increases in share of foreclosure auctions were Des Moines (1.9 percent compared to 0.1 percent a year ago), Akron, Ohio (2.1 percent compared to 0.1 percent a year ago), Philadelphia (1.9 percent compared to 0.1 percent a year ago), Chattanooga, Tenn., (1.3 percent compared to 0.1 percent a year ago), and Fresno, Calif., (0.9 percent compared to 0.1 percent a year ago).

Major metros with an annual increase in share of foreclosure auction sales included Dallas (1.8 percent compared to 0.4 percent a year ago), Cincinnati (1.2 percent compared to 0.3 percent a year ago), Columbus (3.0 percent compared to 0.7 percent a year ago), San Antonio (1.5 percent compared to 0.4 percent a year ago), Cleveland (2.2 percent compared to 0.6 percent a year ago), Houston (1.6 percent compared to 0.6 percent a year ago), Jacksonville, Fla., (3.5 percent compared to 1.4 percent a year ago), Oklahoma City (1.3 percent compared to 0.8 percent a year ago), Virginia Beach (1.4 percent compared to 0.8 percent a year ago), and Atlanta (2.3 percent compared to 3.3 percent a year ago).

Report methodology
The RealtyTrac U.S. Residential Sales Report provides counts and median prices for sales of residential properties nationwide, by state and metropolitan statistical areas with a population of 500,000 or more. Data is also available at the county level upon request. The report also provides a breakdown of short sales, bank-owned sales and foreclosure auction sales to third parties. The data is derived from recorded sales deeds and loan data, which is used to determine cash sales and short sales. Sales counts for recent months are projected based on seasonality and expected number of sales records for those months that are not yet available from public record sources but will be in the future given historical patterns. Statistics for previous months are revised when each new monthly report is issued as more deed data becomes available for those previous months.

Definitions
Residential property sales: sales of single family homes, condominiums/townhomes, and co-ops, not including multi-family properties.

Annualized sales: an annualized estimate of the number of residential property sales based on the actual number of sales deeds received for the month, accounting for expected sales records for that month that will be received in future months as well as seasonality.

Distressed sales: sale of a residential property that is actively in the foreclosure process or bank-owned when the sale is recorded.

Distressed discount: percentage difference between the median distressed sales price and the median non-distressed sales price in a given geographic area.

Bank-Owned sales: sales of residential properties that have been foreclosed on and are owned by the foreclosing lender (bank).

Short sales: sales of residential properties where the sale price is below the combined total of outstanding mortgages secured by the property.

Foreclosure Auction sales: sale of a property at the public foreclosure auction to a third party buyer that is not the foreclosing lender.

Report License 
The RealtyTrac U.S. Residential & Foreclosure Sales report is the result of a proprietary evaluation of information compiled by RealtyTrac; the report and any of the information in whole or in part can only be quoted, copied, published, re-published, distributed and/or re-distributed or used in any manner if the user specifically references RealtyTrac as the source for said report and/or any of the information set forth within the report.

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About RealtyTrac
RealtyTrac is a leading supplier of U.S. real estate data, with nationwide parcel-level records for more than 129 million U.S. parcels that include property characteristics, tax assessor data, sales and mortgage deed records, Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) and 20 million active and historical default, foreclosure auction and bank-owned properties. RealtyTrac's housing data and foreclosure reports are relied on by the Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury Department, HUD, numerous state housing and banking departments, investment funds as well as millions of real estate professionals and consumers, to help evaluate housing trends and make informed decisions about real estate.