RISMEDIA

August 16, 2010

The number of price-reduced homes on the market increased 5.3% in July 2010 as compared to June, according to a monthly review of MLS-listed properties within 26 of the country’s largest housing markets conducted by the national online real estate brokerage ZipRealty.

Although the number of price-reduced homes increased in July, the median price reduction across the 4,500 cities and communities in 26 markets surveyed slightly declined from June, to $18,949.

“Home buyers this summer have been on the sidelines, waiting to find deals and bargains; so we’re seeing more sellers slashing their list prices to entice these home shoppers to make an offer,” said Leslie Tyler, vice president of marketing for ZipRealty.

Highlights of ZipRealty’s July survey include:

-More than 45% of “for sale” homes included at least one price reduction—an increase of 2.67% compared to June

-”For sale” prices dropped 2.04%—down to a median of $254,987 across the 26 markets surveyed

-In six major metros, more than one out of two home sellers reduced their list price—Jacksonville, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Orlando, Austin and Chicago

-The metro with the highest percentage of price-reduced “for sale” homes continues to be Jacksonville, Fla., where 54% of all July listings had at least one price reduction

-Denver had the lowest percentage of price-reduced homes on the market in July with 32.5%

-Sellers in California housing markets continue to hold steady with prices, compared to other parts of the country; Los Angeles County (39.4%) and the San Francisco Bay Area (40.9%) had the second and third lowest percentage of reduced listings out of all markets surveyed in July

-Buyers in the San Francisco Bay Area again enjoyed the biggest home price discount in absolute dollars, with a median price reduction of $38,000 in July

-Buyers in Houston, Dallas and Raleigh-Durham found the smallest price reductions, with a median price cut of only $10,000 in each of the three markets

-Markets with the largest median price reduction in absolute dollars were: San Francisco ($38,000), Orange County California ($31,000), San Diego ($31,000), Los Angeles ($29,000), Miami/Ft. Lauderdale/Palm Beach ($27,000).