irvine123,
Hehehe... oops... I totally misread your post. I even looked at trying to clean it up, so that it was easier to read, but I realized I would just make more of a mess.
Anyway, I agree, I know many people in the $1mil or $2mil plus range that can afford their home. Like you, I don't need to see their tax returns, but we know that they can. However, I do not think Steve's numbers paint an accurate picture. IIRC all he can do is search keywords, so if the agent and buyer do not put those keywords in, then his searches would never show them. One trick I love to hate is, the corporate owned home, and yes I know that it is owned by the bank, as the title proves that.
I really do think you are underestimating the number of higher end homes being "distressed". Today at the the Santa Ana court house, 25 homes went back to the bank or sold, and 6 of them would be in the $1mil range, or 24% of them. One happened to be in Irvine, and there was three other Irvine homes that went back to the bank. I didn't see a post on homes going into escrow today, so that can't be a good sign. Oh... ouch, one was in Quail Hill that sold in 2004 for $700k, but went back to the bank for $663k. Also, one was a $2mil+ minimum bid for a home in Coto, and it went back to the bank. Really, it has become a lot uglier than I ever expected on the foreclosures, and I am starting to get worried. I will be the first one to let everyone know, when I think they are slowing. Check the foreclosure thread for updates, I know, I need to better about updating it.
I am not sure on the builders hitting the breaks harder this time. Last quarter, there were 1087 new homes sold, and the worst Q4 was 1992, when there were 892 new homes sold. But, there were only 3911 resale homes sold this last quarter, but in 1992 there were 6172 resale homes sold. So, IMO there was a lot more demand then, than there is now. I would have to compare the numbers of 2006 to 91/92, to see if this is more likely. To be honest, you could be right. I need to get that info in a spreadsheet, so maybe this is the motivation I need to get it done.