Listed below are the combined July and August real estate charts for sold prices and the number of homes sold.

This data is taken from the Ventura, Oxnard and Camarillo MLS.

The percentage of single family homes that were distressed sales for July and August are:

Ventura: July 11%  & August 12% • Oxnard: July 15% & August 22%  •  Camarillo: July 13%  & August 9%

We have seen a significant fall off of short sales and bank owned properties this summer; most sales are now standard sales. We’re also seeing a moderation in the frenetic buying atmosphere of the past number of months – but that’s to be expected as fall kicks in (things normally slow down) and the market starts taking a breather from the sprint we’ve seen as investors try to get back into the market.

Sold prices – Single family homes in Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo:

• 12 month graph

Sold prices – Condos in Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo:

• 12 month graph

Numbers sold – Single family homes in Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo:

• 12 month graph

All data is taken from the Ventura, Oxnard and Camarillo MLS.

I’ve noticed that most new listings are “Standard Sale” listings now – not short sales or REO (bank owned) listings . As a matter of fact, seeing a new short sale listing today is sort of “quaint” – reminiscent of the “bad ol’ days” of the previous few years.

So I was curious to compare how many Notice of Trustee Sale notices were published for the county in July compared to a year ago – and it’s been cut in half.

July saw 153 recorded notices compared to over 300 last summer, but down substantially from over 500 in January, 2012.

Relatively speaking, very few foreclosures today are actually going to sale. The vast majority get postponed or cancelled as homeowners work things out with their lender.

This net effect has substantially reduced the number of homes for sale, which in turn shows how the supply and demand nature of things work in a free market.  But in the long term, it’s not a bad thing. As price points have climbed, many underwater homeowners have now found they have equity again and can plan accordingly. We’re also seeing the move-up market starting up again.

Hopefully, the painful challenges we’ve gone through over the past 5 years or so are now in the rear view mirror.

Listed below are the June real estate charts for sold prices and the number of homes sold.

This data is taken from the Ventura, Oxnard and Camarillo MLS.

The percentage of single family homes that were distressed sales in the month of June are:

Ventura – 20%      Oxnard – 36%     Camarillo – 16%

Sold prices – Single family homes in Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo:

• 12 month graph

Sold prices – Condos in Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo:

• 12 month graph

Numbers sold – Single family homes in Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo:

• 12 month graph

All data is taken from the Ventura, Oxnard and Camarillo MLS.

Listed below are the May real estate charts for sold prices and the number of homes sold.

This data is taken from the Ventura, Oxnard and Camarillo MLS.

The percentage of single family homes that were distressed sales in the month of May are:

Ventura – 27%      Oxnard – 33%     Camarillo – 16%

Sold prices – Single family homes in Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo:

• 12 month graph

Sold prices – Condos in Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo:

• 12 month graph

Numbers sold – Single family homes in Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo:

• 12 month graph

All data is taken from the Ventura, Oxnard and Camarillo MLS.

Last Sunday we held our first open house for a lovely home on Via Marina in Oxnard and buyers came out in droves. A steady stream all afternoon from 1 pm until well after 4 pm.

The first offer was delivered to us at the open house – fast!

The balance of offers came in within the next 72 hours or so. Needless to say, offers came in over asking price.

What’s driving this craziness? Four main reasons:

• Lack of inventory
• Super low interest rates
• Short sales and bank foreclosures have dried up
• Lots of buyers