Vancouver WA Homes For Sale -- August warmed up (a little) from the Slow July!

Vancouver WA Homes have again remained at a relatively low level of sales activity. This month the Pending sales increased by 16 units (7.3%) while the  the Sold homes increased to 198 -- an increase of 9 units (or, 4.8%).

Of the stick-built houses and condos for sale that went pending in August, we saw both the Short Sales and the Bank Owned Homes segments again capturing a large percentage -- combined they were 41.9% of the total Pending Sales. The foretold 3rd Wave of Distressed Properties as a result of the "Option-ARM Loans" is most likely here in full swing. 

The chart below is a matrix representation of the highlights for the Vancouver WA real estate action for August 2010:

The Chart below shows the current trend of home prices for Vancouver WA, compared to other Pacific Northwest cities of Seattle Washington, and Portland Oregon. For home prices to start going up, we will typically first see a meaningful AND sustained increase in the number of homes purchased. Although there had been modest increases in home buying activity for the early part of this year, we are continuing to see lower volume and softer prices this summer.



If you are looking to sell your home in Vancouver WA, and Clark County Washington in this challenging market time please call or e-mail us with the details of your situation and we'll customize a marketing plan to get your Clark County Home Sold!

Some of the major parts of town you may want to look for include Downtown Homes, The Heights Homes, Orchards Homes, Cascade Park Homes, Fishers Landing Homes, Evergreen Homes, Hazel Dell Homes, Felida Homes and Salmon Creek Homes.

The largest city in Clark County WA is Vancouver Washington. Other towns include: Amboy, Battle Ground, Brush Prairie, Camas, Ridgefield, Washougal, parts of Woodland and Yacolt.
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Definitions:
1) 3rd Party = the sales contract requires the approval of a third party; and includes Short-Sales, Trust Sales, Relocation Company sales, etc.
2) Pre-Foreclosures = aka Short-Sales are homes where the lending bank(s) agrees to take less, allowing a sales transaction to take place.
3) Foreclosures = aka REO's and Bank Owned Homes, already Foreclosed by the Lender(s).
4) PENDING = listed homes that have been marked as under contract by the listing agent during the past 30 days.
5) SOLD = listed homes that have been marked as closed sales by the listing agent in the past 30 days. Note: some of these sold homes may have been "pending sales" for far more than 30 days!

Disclaimer: this information is drawn using custom search parameters from the predominant MLS system covering Vancouver Washington and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

The above information was provided by John Slocum and Kathryn Alexander, recognized as one of the top teams at Vancouver WA REMAX . We hope you enjoy the information in our posts, including videos on real estate and Homes for sale in Vancouver Washington and the rest of Clark County.

Thinking of selling your home in this market? We have the insight and passion for selling homes to get you moving!

For Southwest Washington homes and Real Estate in Vancouver WA visit Vancouver WA Real Estate.  If your interest is in foreclosures, pre-foreclosures (short sale homes) ; and when looking for Bank Owned Homes in Vancouver Washington we have our website set up for you to easily search for each of these categories!

PS - Nobody sells more homes than RE/MAX. Look to the Alexander ~ Slocum Team
for your Vancouver WA real estate!

These are other popular recent searches on our website:

Camas WA Real Estate
Luxury Homes Vancouver WA
 

We've seen the Portland Tram above us, and just had to check it out!



... and the view from the Gondola is truly a rare and special treat!



...you can even see the active volcano Mount St. Helens, Washington State in the distance!

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Photos by Kathryn Alexander of Vancouver Washington, of a visit to the Portland Oregon Aerial Tram, Summer 2010.

This is Portland Oregon, with Blue Skies and No Cars on the Road?!...



...maybe this explains it:





...and the beat goes on...

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Photos by John Slocum of Vancouver Washington, with assistance from Kathryn Alexander.  Photo taken in the Hawthorn District of Southwest Portland Oregon in the Summer of 2010.  Cars were banned from this street and only Bicycles and pedestrians were to be seen... and the rare blue sky!

Some of the things we visitors from Washington see at the nearby Oregon Zoo ...

like wrestling with Lions...




Lofty Dining...




Stymied Negotiations...




Keeping a Cooler Head...




and more!

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Photos by Kathryn Alexander of Vancouver Washington.  A visit to the Oregon Zoo in Portland OR on a hot August day in 2010.  This Zoo is about 25 minutes from Vancouver Washington by freeway: I-5 to I-405 to US-26 West.

Vancouver WA Real Estate | Status of New Homes For Sale in 2010

One of the Vancouver WA real estate sectors taking the worst hit from the great recession has been new home construction, and the sale of these new homes. In both 2007 and 2008 New Vancouver WA Homes accounted for approximately 15.5% of all stick-built homes sold. However, in 2009 that relative percentage of all homes sold dropped to less than 12%. In nominal terms, 924 new homes were sold in 2007; with only 587 new homes sold in 2009 -- a reduction of 337 homes per year!

Another metric to discuss relative to Vancouver new home sales is what happened to the median price for these homes? From MLS historical data we are calculating an approximate median sales price of $350,550 for new homes sold in 2007. In 2009 that same number became $232,750 -- a 33.6% reduction! We won't calculate with precision the elements contributing to the lower median price however, in our opinion the main causes are: 1) a large number of higher-priced homes took a drubbing; 2) short sales and foreclosures of new homes caused lowered prices; 3) home values fell in general.

With six months of business in the books for 2010 we've taken a look at the current state of sales for new homes in Vancouver and here's what the numbers show us: 302 New homes have been sold with a median sales price of approximately $247,500. On the face of it we have a few more sales in 2010 than in 2009 but not by many; and the relative percentage of new homes to total homes sold is slightly less than last year at 11.4% However, the median price has increased 6%+!



Financing for new homes has also become more of a challenge for builders and new home buyers. Loans for homes to be built on spec don't seem to exist these days. Larry Harris, a mortgage officer at TwinStar Credit Union, is reporting he's had more new construction loans for buyers than he has had in the past 8 years. These loans require 20% or more down on the part of the borrower however, they allow the lot to be purchased and the builder to build the home.

With only 6 months of real estate data to work with it may be too early to tell how healthy the new construction segment will be at the end of 2010. What we have observed personally is that there are slightly fewer entry-level home builders active; and more of the higher-end home builders are missing. The builders left to do the work are indeed active this season with entry level, mid-level and high-end new homes being built. With interest rates so low; and lot prices at a much lower level, we expect the new home sales numbers for the last half of 2010 to be in the 400+- range.

If a New home is something you are interested in learning more about, please contact us and we'll go over the many excellent options that are available in the Vancouver Washington area today!

Visit our website to learn more about Vancouver WA Homes, Camas WA Homes For Sale, and what this part of the Pacific Northwest has to offer!

Vancouver WA Condos For Sale | Real Estate Market Report for Vancouver Washington, July 2010

Early this month we logged into the Vancouver MLS for Vancouver WA Condos and Townhomes to obtain a quick update of what happened Condo and Townhome wise within the confines of Vancouver, in Clark County Washington. Here is what we have to report:

From this quick view we see 16.7 months of Inventory (divide total Active by total Sold), with the distressed categories (Short Sales + Bank Owned) dominating the sales.  We are also seeing a slowing of sales this early and mid-summer time owing to the expiration of the tax credit incentive program, and the typical vacation season.  

Although we don't have empirical proof as to why the Condo and townhome inventory is much more troubled than the single-family residence category in Vancouver, in our opinion these may be some of the key reasons:

1. There was an over-supply in this category going into the downturn;
2. the price difference between single-family homes and condos compressed, as single family home prices plummeted;
3. Financing, especially via the FHA product, is not available for many Condo communities.

The result has been lower prices for condos almost across the board, and a far greater selection for the current condo shopper.

If you are looking to sell your Condo or Town Home in Vancouver or Clark County Washington in this challenging market time please call or e-mail us with the details of your situation and we'll customize a marketing plan to get your Vancouver Washington Condo Home Sold!

We've recently added some specific Condo Searches that may help with your market research or shopping:  for southeast Vancouver we have Ellsworth Springs Condos; Cascade Park Condos For Sale; and Fishers Landing Condos For Sale.

For Northwest Vancouver we have Salmon Creek Condos For Sale; and in east Clark County we Camas WA Condos For Sale.

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Definitions:
1) 3rd Party = the sales contract requires the approval of a third party; and includes Short-Sales, Trust Sales, Relocation Company sales, etc.
2) Pre-Foreclosures = aka Short-Sales are homes where the lending bank(s) agrees to take less, allowing a sales transaction to take place.
3) Foreclosures = aka REO's and Bank Owned Homes, already Foreclosed by the Lender(s).
4) PENDING = listed homes that have been marked as under contract by the listing agent during the past 30 days.
5) SOLD = listed homes that have been marked as closed sales by the listing agent in the past 30 days. Note: some of these sold homes may have been "pending sales" for far more than 30 days!

Disclaimer: this information is drawn using custom search parameters from the predominant MLS system covering Vancouver Washington and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

The above information was provided by John Slocum and Kathryn Alexander, recognized as one of the top teams at REMAX Vancouver WA. We hope you enjoy the information in our posts, including videos on real estate and Living in Vancouver Washington and the rest of Clark County.

Thinking of selling your home in this market? We have the insight and passion for selling homes to get you moving!

aka - Grown-ups in Their Muddy Sand Box

First, of course, you add a variety of Chevy, Ford and Dodge Pickups...

...add in some custom body work and mud...




... and more mud and custom body work...



... not much more to it!  (btw - the black Boss Hogg Chevy won).

_______________________________________________

Photos by John Slocum of the grown-ups in their muddy sandbox making Planter Pickup Trucks at the 2010 Clark County Fair in Ridgefield Washington (just north of Vancouver Washington).  This annual event draws eager participants from all over the Pacific Northwest to show their finest skills with the full-sized (and even a mid-sized) pickup truck. 

PS - don't try this at home!

Real Estate Market Activity in Battle Ground Washington - July 2010

This report is meant to be a quick snap-shot view of what happened wise within the confines of the Ground zip code 98604, for Battle Ground Homes For Sale in Clark County Washington. Here is what we have to report:

From this quick view we see an almost One Year Supply of inventory based upon the Active Inventory divided by the number of SOLDS.  This month the 3rd Party + Pre-Forclosures + Foreclosures combined are about 26.8% of the Active homes listed (holding about the same from month to month), and they represent about 27.6% of the homes going under contract (again consistent with previous months).

Key items we are looking for in a market turnaround are not just an increase in the number of transactions but, an increase in the non-PreForeclosure / Foreclosure Sold category. In our opinion that ratio has remained consistent for the past several months overall in Clark County.

The Chart Below compares Battle Ground Washington Home Sale Prices and Trends with other nearby Towns: Brush Prairie, Ridgefield and La Center Washington:



If you are looking to sell your home in Battle Ground, Vancouver or another part of Clark County Washington in this challenging market time please call or e-mail us with the details of your situation and we'll customize a marketing plan to get your Clark County Home Sold!

-------
Definitions:
1) 3rd Party = the sales contract requires the approval of a third party; and includes Short-Sales, Trust Sales, Relocation Company sales, etc.
2) PreForeclosures = aka Short-Sales are homes where the lending bank(s) agrees to take less, allowing a sales transaction to take place.
3) Foreclosures = aka REO's and Bank Owned Homes, already Foreclosed by the Lender(s).
4) PENDING = listed homes that have been marked as under contract by the listing agent during the past 30 days.
5) SOLD = listed homes that have been marked as closed sales by the listing agent in the past 30 days. Note: some of these sold homes may have been "pending sales" for far more than 30 days!

Disclaimer: this information is drawn using custom search parameters from the predominant MLS system covering Vancouver Washington and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

The above information was provided by John Slocum and Kathryn Alexander, recognized as one of the top teams at REMAX Vancouver WA. We hope you enjoy the information in our posts, including videos on real estate and Living in Vancouver Washington and the rest of Clark County.

Thinking of selling your home in this market? We have the insight and passion for selling homes to get you moving!

For Southwest Washington homes and Real Estate in Vancouver WA visit Vancouver Washington Real Estate. If you have an immediate need to search the MLS for Vancouver WA please visit Vancouver WA Homes For Sale

If your interest is in foreclosures, pre-foreclosures (short-sale homes) and Bank Owned Homes in Vancouver WA we have a special search set up for you at Foreclosures Vancouver WA.

Current MLS Market Report for Vancouver WA and Clark County

Camas WA Real Estate -- July's activity is Slow Again!

Once again homes for sale in Camas have been healing from the challenging overall economy, and the excess inventory of Camas Short Sale Homes and Bank Owned homes.

We've logged into the Camas MLS (covers Vancouver Washington also) to obtain a quick snap-shot view of what happened real estate wise within the confines of Camas for the month of July. Here is what we have to report:

From this quick view, like last month we see an upward "blip" in the number of Short Sales going Pending. Short sales usually only go pending after the lending bank(s) have approved a buyer's offer, rather than the typically earlier point in time when the Seller agrees to the buyers terms. Part of this may be due to the new MLS rule change which allows the Seller to request the status be changed to Pending if a good enough offer(s) is in play. Many sellers have been invoking this new rule to stop the high number of home showings once an offer has been submitted to the banks.  This report only shows homes that went pending during the month.  A further check reveals there are 34 more homes that went Pending prior to July but have not closed.

Also noted is the net increase of 14 homes in the Active category in Total however, there is a net 15 new Active homes in 3rd Party / Pre-foreclosure category.  Clearly the bulk of the net-new listings are in financial distress.

Finally, the net number of Closed Sales is down dramatically.  One reason we are hearing for this is that lenders are very bogged down with existing home loans being refinanced, and that we should expect 45 days to finance a home purchase.

The Chart Below compares current Camas Washington Home Sale Prices and Trends with other nearby Towns: Vancouver WA, Washougal and Portland Oregon:



From this quick review we see an upward "blip" in the Average Camas Home Sales Price, while the Median Sales price has actually declined by 2%. What this means is that we've finally had a few of the Camas Luxury Homes get sold after this segment of the home inventory had been sitting stagnant with very few sales. 

If you are looking to purchase a home in Camas now is an excellent time!  We've made some home searches in Camas easy for you with: Prune Hill Homes, Columbia Summit Estates Homes, Holly Hills Homes, Summit Oaks Homes, Lacamas Shores Homes, Camas WA Condos For Sale and Luxury Homes Camas WA.

The largest city in Clark County WA is Vancouver Washington. Other towns include: Amboy, Battle Ground, Brush Prairie, Camas, Ridgefield, Washougal, parts of Woodland and Yacolt.
-------
Definitions:
1) 3rd Party = the sales contract requires the approval of a third party; and includes Short-Sales, Trust Sales, Relocation Company sales, etc.
2) Pre-Foreclosures = aka Short-Sales are homes where the lending bank(s) agrees to take less, allowing a sales transaction to take place.
3) Foreclosures = aka REO's and Bank Owned Homes, already Foreclosed by the Lender(s).
4) PENDING = listed homes that have been marked as under contract by the listing agent during the past 30 days.
5) SOLD = listed homes that have been marked as closed sales by the listing agent in the past 30 days. Note: some of these sold homes may have been "pending sales" for far more than 30 days!

Disclaimer: this information is drawn using custom search parameters from the predominant MLS system covering Vancouver Washington and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

The above information was provided by John Slocum and Kathryn Alexander, recognized as one of the top teams at Vancouver WA REMAX . We hope you enjoy the information in our posts, including videos on real estate and Homes for sale in Vancouver Washington and the rest of Clark County.

For Southwest Washington homes and Real Estate in Vancouver WA visit Vancouver WA Real Estate. If you have an immediate need to search the MLS for Vancouver WA please visit Vancouver WA Homes For Sale

If your interest is in foreclosures, pre-foreclosures (short sale homes) check out Short Sale Vancouver WA; and when looking for Bank Owned Homes in Vancouver Washington we have a special search set up for you at Foreclosures Vancouver WA.

Thinking of selling your home in this market? We have the insight and passion for selling homes to get you moving!

PS - Nobody sells more homes than RE/MAX. Look to the Alexander ~ Slocum Team
for your Vancouver WA real estate!

These are other popular recent searches on our website:

Battle Ground Real Estate
Luxury Homes Vancouver WA

Current MLS Market Report for Vancouver WA and Clark County