this was originally posted by
http://www.southoctracker.com/and you may find it usefull..
Here is a collection of headlines and snippets from the LA Times (remember the O.C. edition?) during the last real estate bust in the 1990s, in chronological order beginning in 1987 (the market was still on its way up, but there were some telling signs) and ending in 1997 (the bottom).
It's interesting to try and connect some of these headlines with some similar types of stories that are beginning to play out today. Also significant is the timing - compared to the past slowdown, this current one we're in seems to have taken far less time in getting from the "sales down but prices up" phase to the "sales and prices both down" state we're at now. Note: Graphic is from Piggington.com
Nov. 26, 1987
Home Resales Drop 13.6% in October, but Median Price Continues Upward
"It was the largest decline in Orange County sales of used homes in almost a year, a 13.6% drop in October, contrasted with the year-earlier month, for which the California Assn. of Realtors blamed rising interest rates...But because there were relatively few houses for sale in the county, prices inched upward."
Jan. 30, 1988
The Rise in County's Home Prices New Housing Here Might Be a (Gulp) Bargain
"Few people in Orange County-especially recent buyers-would argue that new-home prices are cheap here. However, by at least two standards of measurement, prices could be rising much faster than they have in the 1980s."
Dec. 21, 1988
County's Housing Prices Jump Again
"November's resale housing market performance may have been strengthened by a decline in mortgage rates during September and October, when most home buyers with transactions that closed escrow in November were shopping for a mortgage loan.
"'In terms of sales, this was the strongest November of the decade and one of the best months we've seen this year,' said association President Dale Colby, a Realtor from Glendora. 'In fact, home sales were up sharply from last November in every major region of the state.'"
Nov. 14, 1989
O.C. Home Resales Fall Nearly 20% From Third Quarter of '88
"Orange County home sales dropped nearly 20% in the third quarter compared to last year...It's those high prices that have finally hurt sales, the trade association (CAR) said, forcing all but the most affluent buyers out of the county. Only about one in seven county households can afford the average resale home."
June 27, 1990
House Resales Decline While Median Prices Climb
"The declining sales pace in Orange County, based on reports from area realty boards, represents a 35% decline since May, 1988, when new and used homes in the county were selling almost as fast as realtors could put up 'for sale' signs."
Oct. 17, 1991
Standard Pacific Suffers Effects of Market Slump Home sales: Earnings dropped 88% in third quarter but the firm's executives are optimistic about orders placed for homes"Standard Pacific L.P., suffering the effects of the deteriorated market for new home sales in California, saw its earnings plummet 88% and its revenue fall 41% for the third quarter."
Dec. 31, 1992
1993 May Provide Balm for Battered Housing Industry Homes: While 1992 sales were down 12%, traffic at builders' models held fairly steady, indicating pent-up demand "'It shows that there is demand but that the potential buyers still want deals,'" said John Shumway, president of Market Profiles, a Costa Mesa real estate marketing consultant. 'People are still waiting for prices to come down even more in Orange County, so they are out there shopping, turning over every stone looking for that deal.'"
Aug. 4, 1993
Southland home values lead U.S. -- Downward
"Housing prices in Los Angeles and Orange Counties have fallen further during the last year than in any other part of the nation...'"California's housing market used to be the locomotive that led other markets out of recession. This time, it looks like we're going to be the caboose.'"
July 13, 1994
County Home Sales Up 26% in 2nd Quarter Real estate: Housing developers attribute promising figures to `typical June swoon'
"In another sign of new vigor in the Orange County real estate market, second-quarter sales of new and existing homes jumped more than 26% from the same period last year...Local housing developers, however, were not especially enthusiastic about the second-quarter figures, noting that home sales are typically strongest during the summer months and predicting that higher interest rates will depress housing sales."
Dec. 6, 1995
O.C. Home Sales Up for a Change; Real estate: The first year-to-year increase in 13 months is slight but offers some hope that the slump is over at last
"Home sales in Orange County inched up slightly in November, marking the first year-to-year increase in 13 months and providing a small measure of hope that the real estate market is beginning to recover."
Oct. 11, 1996
Southland home sales up slightly; Prices stable
"Southern California's housing market continued to show signs of a slow but steady recovery last month as home sales rose slightly compared with year-ago levels and prices were stable."
Nov. 1, 1997
O.C. Joins Statewide Foreclosure Decline; Housing: Drop to fewest seizures locally since '92 follows increased sales, higher prices
"A backlog of unsold foreclosed properties can depress home prices long after the general economy begins to recover. So declining foreclosure numbers should support the recent trend toward higher prices, real estate experts say."