Pasadena Real Estate Broker Announces the Secret, Mankind to Benefit

Pasadena Real Estate Price

The content of this article may be the key to your future prosperity. For it holds the key to what so many have searched before. The text is not based upon hearsay, not based on opinion, but rather predicated on actual data. In these days when everyone has an opinion on the anemic housing market its good to know that someone has performed the research, culled the data and drawn careful conclusions. The key to selling your Pasadena home in this current market will soon be revealed.

I should also point out that our research department which is staffed by six figure MBA’s had the afternoon off. Actually they have every afternoon off, since we do not have a research department. Regardless, the thesis for a successful property transaction was discovered in about an hour. Not by mere accident like rubber and the telephone, but by attempting to prove a theory. A guess, that there was a correlation somewhere between why some experience success while others deal with frustration and failure.

Selling houses is not rocket science, no matter what some agents would try and get you to believe. There is no magic bullet, no formula that has been passed down through the ages. No one particular agent or company has “the power”, for if they did it would have been published long ago, allowing the keeper of the flame to cash out and make millions of dollars on speaking engagements and book publishing. Real estate agents know this, however there is an implied oath, that it never be divulged or publicly exposed for fear of succumbing to the status quo. Its Superman’s kryptonite. The myth must continue to be propagated.

It Should Have Been Obvious

Sometimes we attempt to make things more complex than they should be. However the secret to a successful property transaction is so simple, it should have been announced a long time ago. In fact, we obfuscate the real issue with terms such as “staging”, “curb appeal” and rosy laced language we forget we are selling real property, instead of trench coats for J. Peterman.

The Secret Announced

Your success or failure in your property sale will be determined from day one. Once your house hits the market and has been announced that it is “For Sale”, your strategy has been plotted and your motive announced.

For the key to maximizing your value, the difference between success and failure all comes down to one thing……..the listing price

The data analyzed was residential sales for the month of May in Pasadena, California.

Pasadena Real Estate Pricing

The numbers indicate that if your house is priced correctly from the beginning, two things are likely to happen:

  1. The house will sell for more money
  2. The house will sell in less time

The chart shows when properties are listed too high, they tend to chase the market and take price reductions, selling for less and less of their asking prices. The result is longer selling times, therefore reducing the value.

In a declining market, time is money, and the longer your home sits unsold, well I think you get the idea.

Pasadena Condominium & Townhome Building Boom

catalina condo

Looking at all of the new construction projects in town you would never guess that Pasadena real estate is experiencing a slow down. If you have made the decision to purchase a condominium or townhome then take your seat front and center. The catbird seat. You have many options these days. No matter what you are looking for in terms of amenities or pricing, chances are it is available, and less expensive than it was six months ago. Prices have come down from their listing highs. Based upon the recent rate of sale we may see further reductions.

catalina condo
Catalina Villas is a 15 unit complex located at 480 N. Catalina Avenue. 8 properties are currently for sale. A 2 bed and 3 bath unit featuring 1009 square feet is currently listed for $459,000, down from $544,500 last June. Association fees are $250/month. Units with 2 beds and 2 baths are listed for $399,500.

fair oaks summit
Fair Oaks Summit – a 24 unit complex with 10 units currently for sale. A 3 bed / 3 bath unit was listed last September for $589,000 and is offering 1709 square feet. It has been reduced to $450,000. Located between Washington and Woodbury on N Fair Oaks, this craftsman style unit has an association fee of $238/month. If you desire new construction, these units offer a great value.

cinema lofts
Cinema Lofts feature a total of 37 units, however only 3 units have been reported sold with another 2 units pending. These lofts are 1 bed and 1 bath ranging in price from $385,000 to $395,000. Properties have been listed for 3 months, with association fees in the range of $159.00/month. These units appear to be very elegantly appointed with some great features and amenities.

belle
Belleme Terrace – ranging in price from $595,000 for a 2 bedroom, 3 bath with 1163 sq ft to a unit of 2307 sq ft priced at $1,099,000. This 16 unit complex has 12 units available for sale. These units were listed for sale in November last year and have had price reductions in the range of 6%. A beautifully designed complex unlike any other in Pasadena.

More Coming

There are several other projects currently in the construction phase including Lake@Walnut, a mixed use project containing 106 residential units that are being constructed on top of retail space which sits on the ground floor. To the west we have Delacey Place. Another mixed use project with first floor retail and 30 residential units.

Pasadena California Residential Real Estate, 1st Quarter Recap

Pasadena 91101

Earlier this week we reported on the Pasadena real estate market and the sales numbers for March.

Two things are quite obvious; unit sales are off by about 50% across the board. This seems to be true in LA County as well as California. And secondly, inventory levels of homes listed for sale are at the highest point we have probably seen in the last 10 years.

Since the Pasadena area covers such a wide geography and demographic area and because all real estate is local, I decided to break down the analysis by zip code and further dissect what is happening with home values in our city.

Pasadena 91101

Zip Code 91101 – This area is dominated by condos and townhomes. Last year saw quite a bit of activity on newer projects on E. Green St., S. Hudson and Union Street. A market shift has occurred with more mid priced units selling as opposed to higher end units. There are close to 29 homes in foreclosure with about a 10 month supply of inventory.

Pasadena 91103

Zip Code 91103 – Homes within this zip code could be referred to as “A Tale of Two Cities”. This area includes million dollar homes in Linda Vista and also homes east of the Rose Bowl to Marengo. The million dollar market remains fairly strong, however if you exclude homes that sold over $1 million, the median price has fallen from $540,000 last year to $450,000 this year. There are close to 130 homes in this eastern part of the zip code in some stage of foreclosure and approximately a 1 1/2 year supply of homes for sale.

Pasadena 91104

Zip Code 91104 – Including, Orange Heights, Bungalow Heaven, Historic Highlands, Garfield Heights and Brigden Ranch. There is a good cross section of homes in this area and the median price is down about 12%. Also this area is increasing in the number of foreclosures with about 100 properties currently listed. Close to a 10 month supply of homes on the market for sale.

Pasadena zip code 91105

Zip Code 91105 – This area includes San Rafael and features homes in the above average to high price range. It has also been the best performing neighborhood in Pasadena as far as maintaining value and will also be home to the new Pasadena Eco House. Home values have remained strong partly due to the low number (24) of properties in foreclosure. Current inventory indicates about a 12 month supply. This high number of homes for sale could very well produce some softening of values in the future.

Pasadena zip code 91106

Zip Code 91106 – This area features single family homes in Madison Heights in the million dollar plus range, but is also comprised of many condos and townhomes which make up about 75% of the units sold. Most of the price weakness in this area is from the 20+ year old townhomes and condos. Last year we did see the more expensive homes selling over their asking prices, however that has not been the case this year. This are 55 properties in foreclosure with the emphasis on condo/townhomes and several multi-family properties.

Pasadena zip code 91107

Zip Code 91107 – Local neighborhoods include Upper Hastings, Lower Hastings and Chapman Woods. Very similar to the characteristics in zip code 91104. Last year 12 recorded sales (townhomes & condo’s) occurred below $500,000, this year not one recorded sale. Again more evidence that the low end market is suffering the brunt of the housing slowdown. This zip code has suffered the largest decrease in unit sales and with the anemic sales in March, the current inventory is close to a 1 1/2 year supply. Foreclosure property count is 90 units and has been on the rise.

Pasadena Residential Income Real Estate Report

Pasadena Income Property Recap

It is no surprise that the sluggish housing market is also having an impact on real estate that is purchased and held for investment. A few years ago everyone was a wannabe real estate investor, because real estate was the road to quick wealth and cocktail party conversation was dominated by how much our houses increased in value. It was fashionable to be in real estate. Do you really think Donald Chump Trump could introduce a line of neckwear for men had it not been for the rise in real estate?

We would receive calls into our office from people declaring themselves to be a real estate investor, but a quick response such as “Oh, how many properties do you own?” would usually reveal the true status which was “yes, in fact they did see a commercial on TV regarding real estate investment.”

These days investment real estate has lost some of its luster. It is only for the seriously committed and not for the weekend dabbler as indicated by the sales results of the last three months. The two reasons being (1) money and (2) financing. Since both are harder to obtain and increased amounts are required to purchase, many would be buyers who were playing the real estate roulette wheel hoping that values would forever increase are no longer in the market. Plus the only reason to buy income property is for the income stream that is generated. For income to be produced a substantial down payment is required before the rents begin to pay the PITI (principal, interest, taxes and insurance).

Pasadena Income Property Recap

Opportunity for the Contrarians

If you do not have the heard mentality, then there could be opportunity for you. If you think that the time to buy is when others are selling, then it might be time to consider jumping into the market. With both Pasadena real estate markets (residential and income) selling about 50% less units this first quarter, it appears from the chart above that prices are definitely softening.

Unlike residential real estate where emotion is a large factor in the purchase decision, investment real estate is just the opposite. Much more of a black and white decision. If it doesn’t make money, there is no reason to buy it.

A Critical Key Indicator Is Housing’s Crystal Ball

Pasadena Housing Stats

crystall ballIf the real estate market were on a fiscal year instead of a calendar year, the New Year would begin in March. With the onset of spring, the housing market has typically kicked into gear. We have recovered from the holidays, prioritized and set goals convincing ourselves that this year will be different. With the warmer weather approaching and the end of the school year, people are once again ready to shop for houses.

Or at least they used to be.

The Springtime Effect

I recently posted a graph depicting monthly sales in the Pasadena real estate market. It showed the seasonality in the market with sales peaking in the spring and summer months. Go as far back as 2002 and you get the same results. Set your watch. It was going to happen. Like clockwork.

Then came the spring of 2006 and interest slowly began to fade. The bull housing market began to loose its steam. It just wasn’t recognized as such. Maybe the market was just taking a breather. Housing slowed as the spread between adjustable rate loans and fixed rates began to move closer, eliminating affordability for many would be homeowners. No one expected such a swift and sudden stop. At this point, the housing market only had one strike against it. We weren’t prepared for the next two 95mph fastballs, known as the sub-prime crisis and the increasing rate of foreclosures. Both of which came in high and inside. Strike two, strike three.

Inventory Levels to Be Key

As you can see, people will take their property off the market at the end of they year as evidenced by the two dips in January. Listing inventory began to increase late January 2007. It is beginning to rise again and apparently earlier this year than last.
Pasadena Housing Stats current Pasadena inventory levels (single family) as of 2/25/08

The rate of homes sold to current inventory will be a critical calculation and will determine the course of the market for the remainder of 2008.

If inventories begin to rise and we do not see a proportional rise in the number of homes sold, Sellers will be forced to take a more aggressive approach, putting more pressure on listng prices.


Currently in Pasadena we have approximately a 9 to 10 month supply of houses on the market for sale. If you are a home seller and that number continues to grow, be patient. The prospects for this year are not likely to be any better than 2007.