Published:
ZipRealty Quarterly Housing Market Index Highlights Year-Over-Year Inventory Levels, Price Reductions and "Hot and Cold" Zip Codes in 18 Metro Areas
Data Shows Six Percent Increase in Number of Listed Homes and Number of Price-Reduced Homes -- but Some Neighborhoods in Southern California and Chicago Still Selling Over List Price

The number of homes listed for sale in 18
major metropolitan markets across the U.S., as well as the number of homes
that include a price reduction, rose six percent from June 2007 to June
2008, according to the national real estate brokerage ZipRealty
(www.ziprealty.com) (NASDAQ: ZIPR).
Additionally, the brokerage details a snapshot of "hot and cold zip codes"
in six key markets based on the percentage of homes' list price compared to
the final sale price, and the results of a market perception survey of
buyers and sellers, as part of its Quarterly Housing Market Index, released
today.
Highlights from the ZipRealty Quarterly Housing Market Index, based on data
from 18 markets including the San Francisco Bay Area; Southern California;
Boston; Chicago; Washington, DC; Seattle; Las Vegas; Baltimore; and others
included:
-- The biggest inventory hikes year-over-year were in Seattle (up 29.1
percent), followed by Baltimore (up 12 percent) and Miami (6.7 percent).
-- Miami is suffering a double-whammy of rising inventory and a steep
increase in reduced price homes (up 11.4 percent).
-- Inventory levels have decreased the most in Sacramento (down 22.4
percent), followed by Las Vegas (down 18.5 percent) and Orange County (down
15 percent) -- both areas which experienced the second and third highest
percentage of price drops in June 2008.
-- Out of six markets reviewed (Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area,
Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C. and Seattle), several zip codes are still
selling over list price: Near South Side (60605), Loop (60604), and Auburn
Gresham (60620) in Chicago, Palo Alto, CA (94306), and Noe Valley (94114)
in San Francisco.
-- Within the same markets, the following zip codes are selling well
below asking price: Roseland (60628), Humboldt Park (60651), West Pullman
(60628), South Chicago (60617) and Chicago Lawn (60629) in Chicago.
-- Those residing in Texas, Washington, D.C., and Denver are more
optimistic about whether home prices are declining, while Southern
California residents are most pessimistic.
-- Overall, 66 percent of buyers and 72 percent of sellers believe prices
will decrease five to 10 percent.
"It's not surprising to see the rise in inventory and number of homes that
include a reduced price, given the current market conditions," said
ZipRealty President and CEO Patrick Lashinsky. "However, certain zip codes
in our markets are still hot enough to attract multiple offers and see
homes selling at or above list price."
Methodology
ZipRealty pulled various real estate data from the Multiple Listing
Services offered in 18 of the 35 major metropolitan areas in which the real
estate brokerage operates nationally. The data pulled and cited within
this report is for the second quarter of 2008, beginning April 1 and
through June 30. Additionally, the metropolitan areas ZipRealty cites as
part of its monthly report are defined by the brokerage, and may differ
slightly than standard DMAs.
For full results of the ZipRealty Q2 Index, please find a presentation at
http://www.ziprealty.com/pdf/2008_2Q_HousingReport.pdf. In addition,
podcast can be found at
http://ziprealty.typepad.com/blog/2008/08/housing-report.html
About ZipRealty, Inc.
ZipRealty is a full-service residential real estate brokerage firm. The
Company utilizes its user-friendly Web site and employee real estate agents
to provide homebuyers and sellers with high-quality service and value.
ZipRealty's Web site provides users with access to comprehensive local
Multiple Listing Services' home listings data, as well as other relevant
market and neighborhood information. The Company's proprietary business
management system and technology platform help to reduce costs, allowing
the Company to pass on significant savings to consumers. Founded in 1999,
the company operates in 35 major markets in 20 states and the District of
Columbia. For more information on ZipRealty, visit www.ziprealty.com or
call 1-800-CALL-ZIP.
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