[quote author="ERPguy" date=1249008310][quote author="nefron" date=1249002833][quote author="nefron" date=1248994323][quote author="usctrojanman29" date=1248956337][quote author="Strom" date=1248951326]How much of the money out there is speculative right now? I have talked to several people whose "parents are entrepreneurs" (i.e. - they made a lot of money holding RRE during the bubble and think they're RE moguls). They have told me that their parents are buying in Irvine as an "investment", and have made and continue to make offers on houses. Obviously, the only "investment" in Irvine SFHs is "speculation" at this point. How much of that is out there?</blockquote>
It's hard to say really. I know the buyers that I'm working with are looking to occupy their Irvine home as their primary residence.</blockquote>
I think there are a lot of people who think Irvine real estate is a great investment. I posted on the main blog a while ago that this spring I saw four houses in my neighborhood get listed, bought, and show back up on the rental market within weeks. When I saw what they paid, and I saw the asking price for the rent, I knew that if the buyers had put down no more than 20%, the rent they were asking didn't cover the mortgage, the HOA and taxes. So either they are putting in way more than 20%, or maybe they are paying all cash and see the rent as their return.</blockquote>
I didn't bother. I know what the house sold at and I know what the asking lease price was and I know the HOA fees. I can calculate the mortgage at 20% down, add up the taxes and the HOA and compare it to the asking lease price. They certainly didn't get more than their asking lease price. In all cases, the asking lease price was less than the mortgage plus taxes plus HOA. So either they are putting down more than 20% or reduced their costs by paying all cash or got a loan at a super low interest rate (this was when rates were at 4.5%, too). Bottom line: The perception is that prices are low enough that Irvine properties are investment material, otherwise they wouldn't have popped back up on the rental market.</blockquote>
What makes you think that these people are that smart? They may have just compared the mortgage with the rent, and not account for taxes or vacancies.</blockquote>
I'm not saying I think they are smart at all. I'm just saying that I think there is a real mania in Irvine real estate right now, so much so that people think current prices are a bargain and anything below about $550,000 qualifies as an investment. As long as this continues, there will be a low inventory on the market and the low end won't creep any lower. I think the market has found a bottom at $500,000 +/- 10% for a reasonable 1500 sq ft 3/2 sfr. I don't think it's going to go any lower until the investors are exhausted or something forces the market to break that floor. I think prices will creep lower as rates rise but the monthly payment, which is what most people look at, will stay the same. JMHO.