Executive Summary

After a large dip in housing market activity starting in the last quarter of 2018 and first quarter of 2019, housing markets in recent months have mostly bounced back to where they were last summer. The number of home sales trends about the same, home prices have recovered to again show annual increases, inventories are scarce, and absorption rates have returned to the same rates. Buyers, however, remain more constrained than last year leading to fewer bidding wars and longer time on the market. Still, last summer marked a cyclical peak in the most recent housing market renaissance.

Detailed Analysis

Housing markets in Los Angeles have been oscillating this
summer. Home sales activity picked up speed in July, after some slowing in
June, bringing activity back in line with stronger numbers seen in May. In
July, total sales in Los Angeles County trended at the same level as July of
last year, with an increase in sales of homes priced between $1 million and $2
million, up 5 percent year-over-year, being offset by slower sales in other
price segments.

Strong activity among homes priced between $1 million and $2
million bring the levels of homes in that price range to the highest level in
the last five years. Homes priced below $1 million declined 2 percent after
some strong months seen in April and May. This suggests that while lower
interest rates may be helping spur some refinance activity, the positive
spillover on home sales activity has not fully realized. On the other hand,
sales of homes priced over $3 million have picked up significantly in July, down
only 1 percent after the average 17 percent year-over-year declines in the last
eight months.

Consequently, some West Side communities, which experienced
slower market conditions since last year, have finally seen more activity. Most
notably, sales in Malibu and Beach Communities North have posted the first
annual increase since last summer, up 11 percent year-over-year. The impact of
wildfires has had a considerably negative impact on the area with overall
year-to-date decline in sales of 26 percent. The most recent uptick was driven
by strong sales of homes priced below $2 million while higher priced sales
continue to lag.

In contrast, several more affordable communities, such as
Eastside (East LA communities of El Sereno, Lincoln Heights and Boyle Heights)
and NELA have seen a notable slowdown in sales in July, down about 30 percent
year-over-year.

Figure 1 tracks total home sales in Los Angeles County over
the last five years. Note that in the last three years, July sales dipped below
June and August sales. That was not the case this year when July sales
outperformed June sales. The monthly increase from June was driven by
relatively stronger increases in the Malibu region, West Side/Central or Mid
City, and Mid LA/Baldwin Hills. Again, relatively more affordable communities in
Los Angeles, such as Eastside and NELA, saw large negative declines on a
monthly basis, down about 20 percent. Nevertheless, monthly data can be
volatile and are not indicative of longer lasting trends.

Figure 1

Unfortunately, however, availability of for-sale inventories
continues to pose concern for housing market activity going forward. As Figure
2 suggests, for-sale inventory is once again trending below last year’s levels
with July’s year-over-year decline for the overall inventory down one percent,
and inventory priced below $1 million down 5 percent. Declines follow almost a
year of year-over-year increases. And the lower priced inventory is now 24 percent
below the 2015 levels.

Figure 2 Year-over-year change in for-sale inventory by price range

Interestingly though, while the lower priced inventory is on
a decline again, some relatively higher-priced communities have seen gains in
that inventory. Figure 3 illustrates 3-month average inventory change from last
year for total inventory and inventory priced below $1 million. Blue
highlighted fields for West Side communities including Brentwood, Hollywood
Hills, Malibu and Silicon Beach show significant gains from last year. Overall
inventory in the lower priced segment is relatively smaller in those
communities, thus overall lower priced inventory is still declining. Looking
forward, the growth of new listings suggests overall inventories, particularly
lower priced inventories, will continue declining.

Figure 3 

On the other hand, home prices have made a comeback in July
after a period of no changes and some declines. In July, median home price in
Los Angeles County reached another peak at $655,000 (see Figure 4). Last
summer, the highest seasonal price was reached in June at $640,000. The 4
percent year-over-year increase in July was the first such increase this year.
Nonetheless, variation in home price changes is notable with some areas again
seeing strong acceleration in price growth. 

Figure 4 Median home prices in Los Angeles county

Figure 5 lists median home prices and year-over-year changes
since last July. Strong acceleration in price growth was seen in Mid Los Angeles
around greater Baldwin Hills and Mid City. Also, Malibu maintained the price
growth that started last month after the area experienced some weakness in
prices resulting from reconciliation of fire lots and overall weaker demand for
higher priced homes. Price growth in Beverly Hills and Brentwood areas benefitted
from a jump in higher priced sales.

July’s pick up in price growth is thus partially due to
reignited demand for luxury homes and in part a function of lower mortgage
rates which could have been a catalyst for some, as mortgage rates have been
trending at levels not seen since 2017.

Figure 5

And lastly, what to expect in coming months? Market
activity, while subdued by some account, has nevertheless returned to last
year’s highs—when Los Angeles’s housing market likely reached its cyclical
peak. The return in activity is a function of solid continued economy
performance, jobs and wage growth, insufficient supply, and possibly lower
mortgage rates. While it is difficult to say to which degree rates are helping
with the demand, we also don’t know the counterfactual – meaning, where would
the market be today if it wasn’t for the lower rates? The last chart shows
year-over-year changes in units under contract (pending sales), which have been
growing since May and have reached 11 percent in July. This suggest that at
least in the month ahead, we should see continued improvement in the number of
homes sold.

Figure 6 Year-over-year change in number of pending sales

Seamlessly blended into the contours of Sonoma Mountain, a tranquil private domain overlooks wine country from its forested vantage point at 19501 Brooklime Road. Inside, a symphony of rich woods and vast windows pays tribute to the mastery of William Turnbull, the renowned Pacific Coast architect whose “devotion to wood, and to the softness of the landscape, gave all his buildings an easy, relaxed grace” (NY Times).

Throughout
the flowing interior, walls of glass frame stunning vistas from the Sonoma
Valley to Mount Diablo and the North Bay. Since two adjacent parcels are
designated as preserved agricultural space, few other homes can be seen. Over
three rolling acres are home to deer and birds. Cattle graze on the pastureland
below; vineyards and olive groves add to the ever-changing tableau.

The
rooms, wrapped in walls of vertical grain Douglas fir and red oak flooring,
offer a variety of vantage points and a gentle indoor/outdoor flow over
changing levels. Sliding glass doors open onto patios and entertaining areas,
some shaded by mature trees, others dappled with sunshine. Four of the home’s
rooms are delightfully octagonal, including one of the two offices and the
breakfast room, accessed by multiple sets of wide French doors. The formal
living room, lit by a lofty atrium ceiling, is accented by a beautiful fireplace
and built-in seating along the floor-to-ceiling windows. Beyond is a spacious kitchen
with granite counters, double oven, center cooktop island with pull-up seating,
and walk-in pantry.

A subtle treehouse feeling suffuses the upper level master retreat, whose indulgent spa bathroom has a deep soaking tub, two separate vanities, and an enormous skylit walk-in shower with etched glass grape motif. Two generous closets complete the setting. The suite accesses an outdoor atrium used as an exercise room. The two other bedrooms, each closed off from the main house by pocket doors, offer unique vantage points on the property. Just beyond the two-car garage, a separate one-bedroom guest unit with full bath, kitchenette and breakfast nook has French doors to an outdoor setting.

As
part of the prestigious George Ranch enclave, the home enjoys access to tennis
courts and use of the clubhouse, ideal for meetings and social functions. Downtown
Sonoma and the villages of Glen Ellen and Kenwood are just over ten minutes away.
The Golden Gate Bridge is about an hour’s drive.

Turnbull passionately believed it was possible to design new architecture for the Pacific Coast landscape that was respectful, not intrusive. “The shape of the ground, the view, the quality and type of tree cover, the sun, the wind all have voices that I listen to and learn from,” he said. In this home, the architect realized his vision. It’s listed by Maurice Tegelaar and Matt Sevenau at $2,975,000.