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24
California home prices hold steady as high interest rates continue to test housing market, C.A.R. reports
For release:
October 18, 2023
California home prices hold steady as high interest rates continue to test housing market, C.A.R. reports
- Existing, single-family home sales totaled 240,940 in September on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, down 5.4 percent from August and down 21.5 percent from September 2022.
- September's statewide median home price was $843,340, down 1.9 percent from August and up 3.2 percent from September 2022.
- Year-to-date statewide home sales were down 28.5 percent in September.
LOS ANGELES (Oct. 18) – Persistently high mortgage rates continue to test California's housing market as home sales fell for the fourth consecutive month in September, while the median price rose from the year-ago level for the third straight month to record its largest year-over-year gain in more than a year, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) said today.
Infographic: https://www.car.org/en/Global/Infographics/2023-09-Sales-and-Price
Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 240,940 in September, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations and MLSs statewide. The statewide annualized sales figure represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2023 if sales maintained the September pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.
September's sales pace was down 5.4 percent on a monthly basis from 254,740 in August and down 21.5 percent from a year ago, when a revised 307,000 homes were sold on an annualized basis. Sales of existing single-family homes in California remained below the 300,000-unit pace for the 12th month in a row. The monthly decline was the fourth consecutive decrease, and the annual decline was the 27th straight drop.
With the market being less competitive, there are greater opportunities for consumers who need to purchase a home for personal reasons or those who can qualify to purchase at today's interest rates," said C.A.R. President Jennifer Branchini, a Bay Area REALTOR®.
"More sellers are making concessions as homes are taking longer to sell, fewer homes are selling above asking price, and there are more homes to choose from."
Home prices rose again from the year-ago level for the third straight month, as the statewide median price recorded its largest year-over-year gain in 15 months. California's statewide median price dipped 1.9 percent from August's revised $859,800 to $843,340 in September and rose 3.2 percent from $817,150 a year ago. While September's median price took a step back from the 15-month high recorded in August, the month-to-month decline was in line with the long-run August-to-September price adjustment of -1.8 percent observed in the last 44 years. Prices are likely to experience monthly declines in the next couple of months, following the traditional seasonal pattern. Positive year-over-year price growth is expected to persist through the remainder of the year as housing supply is expected to remain tight.
"As mortgage rates surge to new highs not seen in more than two decades, home sales are being tested and are likely to remain tepid for the next few months," said C.A.R. Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Jordan Levine. "With the Fed planning on holding rates higher for longer, the cost of borrowing will remain elevated and may not come down much in the near term. Housing affordability will continue to hinder sales activity for the rest of the year, especially in the low- and mid-price ranges."
Other key points from C.A.R.'s September 2023 resale housing report include:
- At the regional level, all major regions experienced a sales decrease in September on a year-over-year basis, with all five major regions dropping more than 20 percent. The San Francisco Bay Area region recorded the biggest annual sales decline at -23.7 percent, followed by the Central Valley (-22.5 percent), the Far North (-22.3 percent), Southern California (-21.7 percent) and the Central Coast (-20.8 percent).
- Forty-six of the 52 counties tracked by C.A.R. registered a sales decline from a year ago in September, with 43 counties dropping more than 10 percent and 28 counties falling more than 20 percent from last year. Home sales in Siskiyou (-52.4 percent) fell the most, followed by Mariposa (-46.7 percent) and Lassen (-39.1 percent). Five counties posted a sales increase from last year, with Mono (50 percent) gaining the most, followed by Sutter (14.5 percent) and Madera (10.3 percent).
- At the regional level, home prices increased from a year ago in all five major regions. The San Francisco Bay Area's median price (6.6 percent) improved on a year-over-year basis for the second consecutive month and was the region with the biggest annual gain last month. Five out of nine counties within the region recorded an annual gain, with Santa Clara registering the highest growth of 9.0 percent from the prior year. Southern California (4.7 percent), the Central Valley (3.4 percent), Central Coast (3.3 percent) and the Far North region (1.4 percent) also posted mild annual increases.
Home prices continued to improve in many counties across the state, but 21 counties still registered a year-over-year decline in their median prices in September. Lassen posted the biggest price decline with a drop of -32.6 percent from last September, followed by Lake (-23.4 percent) and Mendocino (-16.3 percent). Twenty-nine counties recorded an annual increase in median price, with Mariposa (26.4 percent) recording the biggest jump in its median price, followed by Calaveras (19.4 percent) and Tulare (14.9 percent).
-
- Housing supply in California continued to shrink from a year ago in September as mortgage rates remained elevated. The statewide unsold inventory index (UII), which measures the number of months needed to sell the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate, was 2.8 in September 2023. It increased 16.7 percent on a month-over-month basis and was unchanged from last September.
- Active listings at the state level continued to dip on a year-over year basis for five straight months, with the decline in each of the last six months all registering more than 20 percent year-over-year. With rates remaining high and the market transitioning to the low season, active listings will not likely improve much, if at all, before the end of the year.
- Active listings declined in more than two-thirds of all counties from a year ago, with 26 counties dropping more than 10 percent on a year-over-year basis. Contra Costa (-49.5 percent) posted the biggest annual drop in September, followed by Sacramento (-42.5 percent) and Alameda (-41.5 percent).Fifteen counties recorded an annual gain, with Mariposa registering the largest yearly gain of 38.2 percent, followed by Amador (27.3 percent) and Siskiyou (24.0 percent). On a month-to-month basis, 11 counties experienced a drop in active listings in September, while 44 counties followed the seasonal pattern, increasing monthly from August as the market transitioned into the low home buying season.
- The median number of days it took to sell a California single-family home was 18 days in September and 27 days in September 2022.
- C.A.R.'s statewide sales-price-to-list-price ratio* was 100 percent in September 2023 and 97.6 percent in September 2022.
- The statewide average price per square foot** for an existing single-family home was $417, up from $401 in September a year ago.
- The 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rate averaged 7.20 percent in September, up from 6.11 percent in September 2022, according to C.A.R.'s calculations based on Freddie Mac's weekly mortgage survey data.
Note: The County MLS median price and sales data in the tables are generated from a survey of more than 90 associations of REALTORS® throughout the state and represent statistics of existing single-family detached homes only. County sales data is not adjusted to account for seasonal factors that can influence home sales. Movements in sales prices should not be interpreted as changes in the cost of a standard home. The median price is where half sold for more and half sold for less; medians are more typical than average prices, which are skewed by a relatively small share of transactions at either the lower end or the upper end. Median prices can be influenced by changes in cost, as well as changes in the characteristics and the size of homes sold. The change in median prices should not be construed as actual price changes in specific homes.
*Sales-to-list-price ratio is an indicator that reflects the negotiation power of home buyers and home sellers under current market conditions. The ratio is calculated by dividing the final sales price of a property by its original list price and is expressed as a percentage. A sales-to-list ratio with 100 percent or above suggests that the property sold for more than the list price, and a ratio below 100 percent indicates that the price sold below the asking price.
**Price per square foot is a measure commonly used by real estate agents and brokers to determine how much a square foot of space a buyer will pay for a property. It is calculated as the sale price of the home divided by the number of finished square feet. C.A.R. currently tracks price-per-square foot statistics for 51 counties.
Leading the way…® in California real estate for more than 110 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States with more than 200,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.
# # #
September 2023 County Sales and Price Activity
(Regional and condo sales data not seasonally adjusted)
|
September 2023 |
Median Sold Price of Existing Single-Family Homes |
Sales |
|||||||
|
State/Region/County |
Sept. 2023 |
Aug. 2023 |
|
Sept. 2022 |
|
Price MTM% Chg |
Price YTY% Chg |
Sales MTM% Chg |
Sales YTY% Chg |
|
Calif. Single-family home |
$843,340 |
$859,800 |
|
$817,150 |
r |
-1.9% |
3.2% |
-5.4% |
-21.5% |
|
Calif. Condo/Townhome |
$650,000 |
$657,000 |
|
$620,000 |
|
-1.1% |
4.8% |
-16.8% |
-18.7% |
|
Los Angeles Metro Area |
$780,000 |
$792,500 |
|
$750,000 |
|
-1.6% |
4.0% |
-10.7% |
-20.8% |
|
Central Coast |
$950,000 |
$950,000 |
|
$920,000 |
|
0.0% |
3.3% |
-6.3% |
-20.8% |
|
Central Valley |
$481,000 |
$485,000 |
|
$465,000 |
r |
-0.8% |
3.4% |
-9.8% |
-22.5% |
|
Far North |
$385,000 |
$369,000 |
|
$379,740 |
r |
4.3% |
1.4% |
-15.4% |
-22.3% |
|
Inland Empire |
$550,000 |
$569,990 |
|
$562,240 |
|
-3.5% |
-2.2% |
-12.8% |
-24.8% |
|
San Francisco Bay Area |
$1,300,000 |
$1,260,000 |
|
$1,220,000 |
r |
3.2% |
6.6% |
-9.6% |
-23.7% |
|
Southern California |
$820,000 |
$830,000 |
|
$783,380 |
|
-1.2% |
4.7% |
-12.4% |
-21.7% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
San Francisco Bay Area |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alameda |
$1,300,000 |
$1,250,000 |
|
$1,200,000 |
r |
4.0% |
8.3% |
-6.6% |
-25.1% |
|
Contra Costa |
$871,250 |
$844,440 |
|
$870,000 |
r |
3.2% |
0.1% |
-13.7% |
-26.6% |
|
Marin |
$1,650,000 |
$1,475,000 |
|
$1,728,000 |
r |
11.9% |
-4.5% |
4.4% |
-21.2% |
|
Napa |
$890,000 |
$1,055,000 |
|
$997,500 |
r |
-15.6% |
-10.8% |
-21.3% |
-26.3% |
|
San Francisco |
$1,580,000 |
$1,576,000 |
|
$1,650,000 |
|
0.3% |
-4.2% |
-0.7% |
-18.3% |
|
San Mateo |
$1,955,000 |
$1,950,000 |
|
$1,860,500 |
|
0.3% |
5.1% |
-0.4% |
-14.1% |
|
Santa Clara |
$1,853,000 |
$1,852,500 |
|
$1,700,000 |
|
0.0% |
9.0% |
-12.0% |
-23.4% |
|
Solano |
$585,680 |
$599,000 |
|
$590,000 |
r |
-2.2% |
-0.7% |
-14.4% |
-31.1% |
|
Sonoma |
$848,000 |
$850,000 |
|
$805,000 |
r |
-0.2% |
5.3% |
-12.2% |
-18.3% |
|
Southern California |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Los Angeles |
$914,640 |
$882,020 |
|
$891,770 |
|
3.7% |
2.6% |
-4.5% |
-18.3% |
|
Orange |
$1,310,000 |
$1,310,000 |
|
$1,200,000 |
|
0.0% |
9.2% |
-17.3% |
-19.6% |
|
Riverside |
$600,000 |
$618,000 |
|
$600,000 |
|
-2.9% |
0.0% |
-14.8% |
-25.5% |
|
San Bernardino |
$475,000 |
$495,000 |
|
$480,000 |
|
-4.0% |
-1.0% |
-9.2% |
-23.6% |
|
San Diego |
$973,100 |
$1,000,000 |
|
$899,000 |
|
-2.7% |
8.2% |
-19.4% |
-25.3% |
|
Ventura |
$962,500 |
$915,000 |
|
$850,000 |
|
5.2% |
13.2% |
-16.0% |
-15.7% |
|
Central Coast |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monterey |
$943,340 |
$897,000 |
|
$822,500 |
|
5.2% |
14.7% |
-9.5% |
-20.0% |
|
San Luis Obispo |
$888,000 |
$868,810 |
|
$875,000 |
|
2.2% |
1.5% |
1.6% |
-17.0% |
|
Santa Barbara |
$1,030,000 |
$1,295,000 |
|
$905,000 |
|
-20.5% |
13.8% |
-5.2% |
-26.0% |
|
Santa Cruz |
$1,165,000 |
$1,200,000 |
|
$1,217,500 |
|
-2.9% |
-4.3% |
-14.9% |
-20.8% |
|
Central Valley |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fresno |
$410,000 |
$425,000 |
|
$415,000 |
|
-3.5% |
-1.2% |
-9.1% |
-31.4% |
|
Glenn |
$300,000 |
$321,000 |
|
$327,000 |
|
-6.5% |
-8.3% |
-8.3% |
-38.9% |
|
Kern |
$383,000 |
$394,500 |
|
$365,000 |
|
-2.9% |
4.9% |
-8.9% |
-21.5% |
|
Kings |
$370,750 |
$382,500 |
|
$342,500 |
|
-3.1% |
8.2% |
-8.8% |
-24.4% |
|
Madera |
$410,000 |
$453,000 |
|
$410,000 |
|
-9.5% |
0.0% |
-9.8% |
10.3% |
|
Merced |
$384,500 |
$385,000 |
|
$377,000 |
|
-0.1% |
2.0% |
16.2% |
-5.5% |
|
Placer |
$665,000 |
$669,000 |
|
$640,000 |
r |
-0.6% |
3.9% |
-12.4% |
-14.6% |
|
Sacramento |
$545,000 |
$535,000 |
|
$515,000 |
r |
1.9% |
5.8% |
-10.2% |
-25.2% |
|
San Benito |
$761,250 |
$777,550 |
|
$750,000 |
|
-2.1% |
1.5% |
-8.1% |
-20.9% |
|
San Joaquin |
$550,000 |
$535,000 |
|
$535,000 |
r |
2.8% |
2.8% |
-1.0% |
-25.6% |
|
Stanislaus |
$469,500 |
$465,000 |
|
$450,000 |
r |
1.0% |
4.3% |
-17.3% |
-25.4% |
|
Tulare |
$385,000 |
$372,000 |
|
$335,000 |
|
3.5% |
14.9% |
-19.1% |
-13.6% |
|
Far North |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Butte |
$429,420 |
$436,250 |
|
$429,780 |
|
-1.6% |
-0.1% |
4.4% |
-21.7% |
|
Lassen |
$181,250 |
$225,000 |
|
$269,000 |
|
-19.4% |
-32.6% |
-39.1% |
-39.1% |
|
Plumas |
$441,250 |
$412,000 |
|
$475,000 |
|
7.1% |
-7.1% |
-41.7% |
-20.0% |
|
Shasta |
$385,000 |
$365,000 |
|
$375,000 |
|
5.5% |
2.7% |
-13.4% |
-20.1% |
|
Siskiyou |
$325,000 |
$305,500 |
|
$352,450 |
|
6.4% |
-7.8% |
-37.5% |
-52.4% |
|
Tehama |
$310,000 |
$312,050 |
|
$302,000 |
|
-0.7% |
2.6% |
0.0% |
3.2% |
|
Trinity |
$320,000 |
$205,000 |
|
$346,750 |
|
56.1% |
-7.7% |
-28.6% |
0.0% |
|
Other Calif. Counties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amador |
$414,250 |
$490,000 |
|
$399,000 |
r |
-15.5% |
3.8% |
-29.8% |
-27.3% |
|
Calaveras |
$537,500 |
$475,000 |
|
$450,000 |
|
13.2% |
19.4% |
-16.9% |
-19.0% |
|
Del Norte |
$400,000 |
$382,500 |
|
$418,750 |
|
4.6% |
-4.5% |
-27.8% |
-18.8% |
|
El Dorado |
$685,000 |
$657,000 |
|
$645,000 |
r |
4.3% |
6.2% |
-29.1% |
-19.7% |
|
Humboldt |
$422,500 |
$421,920 |
|
$460,000 |
|
0.1% |
-8.2% |
2.2% |
2.2% |
|
Lake |
$260,000 |
$325,000 |
|
$339,500 |
|
-20.0% |
-23.4% |
-27.1% |
-8.9% |
|
Mariposa |
$432,500 |
$480,000 |
|
$342,200 |
|
-9.9% |
26.4% |
-60.0% |
-46.7% |
|
Mendocino |
$448,000 |
$560,000 |
|
$535,000 |
|
-20.0% |
-16.3% |
4.7% |
-11.8% |
|
Mono |
$935,000 |
$970,000 |
|
$1,105,000 |
|
-3.6% |
-15.4% |
125.0% |
50.0% |
|
Nevada |
$563,000 |
$555,000 |
|
$565,000 |
r |
1.4% |
-0.4% |
-10.9% |
-23.7% |
|
Sutter |
$430,000 |
$425,000 |
|
$440,700 |
r |
1.2% |
-2.4% |
-4.5% |
14.5% |
|
Tuolumne |
$419,000 |
$389,500 |
|
$399,500 |
|
7.6% |
4.9% |
-26.6% |
-26.6% |
|
Yolo |
$608,640 |
$622,500 |
|
$625,000 |
r |
-2.2% |
-2.6% |
-19.0% |
-22.3% |
|
Yuba |
$433,250 |
$449,500 |
|
$433,000 |
r |
-3.6% |
0.1% |
16.1% |
-1.4% |
r = revised
Article belongs to CAR.ORG
12
Current loan Rates
Compare current mortgage rates
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About These Rates: The lenders whose rates appear on this table are NerdWallet's advertising partners. NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a lender's site. The terms advertised here are not offers and do not bind any lender. The rates shown here are retrieved via the Mortech rate engine and are subject to change. These rates do not include taxes, fees, and insurance. Your actual rate and loan terms will be determined by the partner's assessment of your creditworthiness and other factors. Any potential savings figures are estimates based on the information provided by you and our advertising partners.
- 30-year fixed
- 15-year fixed
- 5-year ARM
NerdWallet's mortgage rate insight
On Thursday, October 12th, 2023, the average APR on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell 9 basis points to 7.505%. The average APR on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage rose 1 basis point to 6.711% and the average APR for a 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) rose 1 basis point to 8.017%, according to rates provided to NerdWallet by Zillow. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 18 basis points lower than one week ago and 65 basis points higher than one year ago.
A basis point is one one-hundredth of one percent. Rates are expressed as annual percentage rate, or APR.
Current mortgage and refinance rates
| Product | Interest rate | APR |
|---|---|---|
| 30-year fixed-rate | 7.421% | 7.505% |
| 20-year fixed-rate | 7.367% | 7.468% |
| 15-year fixed-rate | 6.553% | 6.711% |
| 10-year fixed-rate | 6.536% | 6.777% |
| 7-year ARM | 7.372% | 7.947% |
| 5-year ARM | 7.275% | 8.017% |
| 3-year ARM | 6.125% | 7.204% |
| 30-year fixed-rate FHA | 6.750% | 7.608% |
| 30-year fixed-rate VA | 6.514% | 6.920% |
Data source: ©Zillow, Inc. 2006 – 2021. Use is subject to the Terms of Use
What is a mortgage?
Most people don't have the cash to simply buy a house. Instead, they use a mortgage, which is a loan to buy a home. After making a down payment of anywhere from 3% to 25%, they get a mortgage to cover the remaining costs of purchasing the home.
A mortgage is set up so you pay off the loan over a specified period called the term. The most popular term is 30 years. Each payment includes a combination of principal and interest, as well as property taxes, and, if needed, mortgage insurance. (Homeowners insurance may be included, or the homeowner may pay the insurer directly.) Principal is the original amount of money you borrowed while interest is what you're being charged to borrow the money.
How do mortgage rates work?
The mortgage rate a lender offers you is determined by a mix of factors that are specific to you and larger forces that are beyond your control.
Lenders will have a base rate that takes the big stuff into account and gives them some profit. They adjust that base rate up or down for individual borrowers depending on perceived risk. If you seem like a safe bet to a lender, you're more likely to be offered a lower interest rate.
Factors you can change:
-
Your credit score. Mortgage lenders use credit scores to evaluate risk. Higher scores are seen as safer. In other words, the lender is more confident that you'll successfully make your mortgage payments.
-
Your down payment. Paying a larger percentage of the home's price upfront reduces the amount you're borrowing and makes you seem less risky to lenders. You can calculate your loan-to-value ratio to check this out. A LTV of 80% or more is considered high.
-
Your loan type. The kind of loan you're applying for can influence the mortgage rate you're offered. For example, jumbo loans tend to have higher interest rates.
-
How you're using the home. Mortgages for primary residences — a place you're actually going to live — generally get lower interest rates than home loans for vacation properties, second homes or investment properties.
Forces you can't control:
-
The U.S. economy. Sure, this means Wall Street, but non-market forces (for example, elections) can also influence mortgage rates. Changes in inflation and unemployment rates tend to put pressure on interest rates.
-
The global economy. What's happening around the world will influence U.S. markets. Global political worries can move mortgage rates lower. Good news may push rates higher.
-
The Federal Reserve. The nation's central bank attempts to guide the economy with the twin goals of encouraging job growth while keeping inflation under control. Decisions made by the Federal Open Market Committee to raise or cut short-term interest rates can sometimes cause lenders to raise or cut mortgage rates.
" MORE: What determines mortgage rates?
How (and why) to compare mortgage rates
Mortgage rates like the ones you see on this page are sample rates. In this case, they're the averages of rates from multiple lenders, which are provided to NerdWallet by Zillow. They let you know about where mortgage rates stand today, but they might not reflect the rate you'll be offered.
When you look at an individual lender's website and see mortgage rates, those are also sample rates. To generate those rates, the lender will use a bunch of assumptions about their "sample" borrower, including credit score, location and down payment amount. Sample rates also sometimes include discount points, which are optional fees borrowers can pay to lower the interest rate. Including discount points will make a lender's rates appear lower.
To see more personalized rates, you'll need to provide some information about you and about the home you want to buy. For example, at the top of this page, you can enter your ZIP code to start comparing rates. On the next page, you can adjust your approximate credit score, the amount you're looking to spend, your down payment amount and the loan term to see rate quotes that better reflect your individual situation.
Whether you're looking at sample rates on lenders' websites or comparing personalized rates here, you'll notice that interest rates vary. This is one reason why it's important to shop around when you're looking for a mortgage lender. Fractions of a percentage might not seem like they'd make a big difference, but you aren't just shaving a few bucks off your monthly mortgage payment, you're also lowering the total amount of interest you'll pay over the life of the loan.
It's a good idea to apply for mortgage preapproval from at least three lenders. With a preapproval, the lenders verify some of the details of your finances, so both the rates offered and the amount you're able to borrow will be real numbers. Each lender will provide you with a Loan Estimate. These standardized forms make it easy to compare interest rates as well as lender fees.
When you're comparing rates, you'll usually see two numbers — the interest rate and the APR. The APR, or annual percentage rate, is usually the higher of the two because it takes into account both the interest rate and the other costs associated with the loan (like those lender fees). Because of this, APR is usually considered a more accurate measure of the cost of borrowing.
" MORE FOR CANADIAN READERS: Best mortgage rates in Canada
The interest rate is the percentage that the lender charges for borrowing the money. The APR, or annual percentage rate, is supposed to reflect a more accurate cost of borrowing. The APR calculation includes fees and discount points, along with the interest rate.
APR is a tool used to compare loan offers, even if they have different interest rates, fees and discount points. APR takes ongoing costs like mortgage insurance into account, which is why it's usually higher than the interest rate.
About the author: Kate writes about mortgages, homebuying and homeownership for NerdWallet. Previously, she covered topics related to homeownership at This Old House magazine.
12
AGRI-TECH FAIR TO SHOWCASE LATEST ADVANCEMENTS
AGRI-TECH FAIR TO SHOWCASE LATEST ADVANCEMENTS
On October 24, the Farm Bureau of Ventura County will host the free Agri-Tech Fair — an event that will bring together agriculture technology companies, producers, industry leaders and more. Attendees will learn about the latest advancements in agriculture and how they can use these technologies in their operations. A pre-event welcome reception will be held October 23 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Participants can explore the latest technologies, attend live demonstrations, earn Continuing Education Units and connect with leading industry experts. The exhibition will run from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and will be followed by a networking mixer.
Educati...
12
California REALTORS® provide additional funding for closing cost grants to underserved first-time homebuyers
For release:
October 9, 2023
California REALTORS® provide additional funding for closing cost grants to underserved first-time homebuyers
LOS ANGELES (Oct. 9) – In a continuing effort to address California's growing housing affordability crisis and racial homeownership divide, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®' (C.A.R.) Housing Affordability Fund (HAF) will provide another $500,000 in closing cost assistance for eligible first-time California homebuyers from an underserved community, C.A.R. announced today.
The additional amount brings the total to $2 million in grants for the Pathway to Homeownership grant program in support of the Association's Fair Housing and Diversity efforts. Since 20...
4
CALIFORNIA AVOCADOS
CALIFORNIA AVOCADOS
Avocados are grown on approximately 60,000 acres, primarily in southern and central California, typically in regions tempered by coastal climates. Most of the avocado acreage lies between San Luis Obispo and San Diego. Avocados are produced in 15 counties but five coastal counties account for essentially all of the state's production. Based on 2002 USDA census data, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties are the top producing counties, accounting for approximately 80% of the total avocado acreage in California (USDA, 2002). San Diego County is the leading county, producing nearly 47% of California market value for avocados (USDA, 1999a), accounting for 39% of the state's avocado producing acreage (USDA, 2002). Other counties with significant production are Riverside (14%) and Orange (3%) counties. California produces 95% of the avocados grown in the United States and 10% of the world's production. From 1990 to 1998, California's average production was 323 million pounds, with typical fluctuations of 5% (USDA, 1999a) This crop requires relatively few chemicals to control insect pests. Beneficial insects are used as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach in which harsh chemicals are avoided to maintain this balance.
Several varieties of avocados are harvested in California including, Haas, Lamb Haas, Bacon, Zutano, Fuerte, Pinkerton and Gwen. The Haas variety is the predominant tree accounting for roughly 90% of the total production. Due to California's unique coastal micro-climate, avocados are harvested year round with a typical tree yielding 60 lbs of fruit per year. The official avocado crop year runs from November 1 through October 31. Avocado fruit can be held successfully after harvest in cold storage for approximately 2 to 4 weeks. The size and oil levels of the harvested fruit, in part, determine the grade of the harvest.
Avocados are typically grown in well-drained, fine or course sandy loam soils. Micro sprinkler and drip irrigation systems typically are used to deliver water to the grove floor. Avocado roots are relatively shallow, so deep watering is unnecessary. There are over two-dozen avocado bearing soils in San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties alone (USDA, 2006). Approximately 63% of avocado bearing soils in these counties are in drainage groups C and D. Of these, the Cieneba series is the most common avocado bearing soil with moderate expected yields under irrigation (Table 5). The Cieneba series accounts for approximately 37% of avocado bearing soil acreage (USDA, 2006). Cieneba soils are thermic, shallow Typic Xerorthents located on uplands with slopes of 9 to 85 percent (USDA, 1999b). Location and metfile selections are often the most important developments affecting scenario vulnerability and protectiveness. Because this scenario is intended to represent avocado production along the southern coastal area of California, the metfile closest to the center of the primary avocado producing county (San Diego) was chosen. The Cieneba soil series was selected for this scenario because it is both representative of avocado bearing soils (Oster, 2006), is predominant in San Diego County as well as central and southern California, represents the majority (44%) of avocado soils in drainage, the fourth most erosive soil type, and is among the steeper sloped avocado bearing soils (Table 5).
Cieneba is a Hydrologic Group C soil, which represents the majority (44%) of these soils in drainage. Cieneba soils have a USLE K factor of ranging from 0.24-0.32; approximately 82% of avocado bearing soils have a USLE K factor between 0.24 and 0.32 (Table 5). Approximately 10% of avocado bearing soils have a pH lower than Cieneba soils (5.8 - 6.5), although soil pH is not currently a PRZM input parameter and is not expected to often affect chemical fate in the acidic range. Based on the official soil series description, Ceineba soils have an A horizon from 0 to 10 inches (0-25 cm) deep and a C horizon from 10 to over 30 inches (25-76 cm) deep, however the C horizon is primarily weathered granitic material with remnant rock structure. (USDA, 2006). Cieneba coarse sandy loam was used to parameterize this scenario (USDA 2005).
The Met station chosen was the San Diego station (23188.dvf) located at 32º 44' N, 117º 10' W and at an elevation of approximately 4 meters above sea level. This station receives an average of approximately 25.2 cm of rainfall annually. The station is the closest available station to this scenario with data necessary for PRZM.
|
Table 1. PRZM 3.12 Climate and Time Parameters for San Diego, California – Avocado. |
||
|
Parameter |
Value |
Source/Comments |
|
Starting Date |
Jan. 1, 1961 |
Meteorological File from San Diego County, (W 23188) |
|
Ending Date |
Dec. 31, 1990 |
Meteorological File from San Diego County, (W 23188) |
|
Pan Evaporation Factor (PFAC) |
0.70 |
PRZM Manual Figure 5.1. Value represents San Diego region. |
|
Snowmelt Factor (SFAC) |
0 |
In areas where climatology prevents snow fall, SFAC should be set to 0.0 - PRZM Manual (EPA 1998) |
|
Minimum Depth of Evaporation (ANETD) |
32.5 cm |
PRZM Manual (EPA 1998) Average of 30-35 cm |
|
Table 2. PRZM 3.12 Erosion and Landscape Parameters for San Diego, California – Avocado. |
||
|
Parameter |
Value |
Source/Comments |
|
Method to Calculate Erosion (ERFLAG) |
4 (MUSS) |
PRZM Manual (EPA, 1998) |
|
USLE K Factor (USLEK) |
0.24 |
USDA NRCS Soil Data Mart (http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/)
|
|
USLE LS Factor (USLELS) |
3.63 |
PRZM Manual (EPA, 1998) LS value for 12% slope and 400' slope length; LS equation (Haan and Barfield, 1978) |
|
USLE P Factor (USLEP) |
1.0 |
Set to 1 for orchards (EPA, 2004) |
|
Field Area (AFIELD) |
172 ha |
Area of Shipman Reservoir watershed (EPA, 1999) |
|
NRCS Hyetograph (IREG) |
1 |
PRZM Manual Figure 5.12 (EPA, 1998) Type I, IREG=1 |
|
Slope (SLP) |
12 % |
Slopes for Cieneba coarse sandy loam exceed 12%. Set to 12% as per PRZM scenario guidance (EPA, 2004). Some data indicate slopes as high as 16% (Oster and Arpaia 2006) |
|
Hydraulic Length (HL) |
600 m |
Shipman Reservoir (EPA, 1999) |
|
Irrigation Flag (IRFLAG) |
1 |
Year round irrigation. EPA, 2005 |
|
Irrigation Type (IRTYP) |
4 (drip) |
Irrigation Guidance for developing PRZM Scenarios, Table 3; (EPA 2005). |
|
Leaching Factor (FLEACH) |
0.0 |
Set to 0 as per Irrigation Guidance for developing PRZM Scenarios, Table 3; (June 15, 2005). |
|
Fraction of Water Capacity when Irrigation is Applied (PCDEPL) |
0.5 |
Set to default as per Irrigation Guidance for developing PRZM Scenarios, Table 3; (EPA 2005). |
|
Maximum Rate at which Irrigation is Applied (RATEAP) |
0.056 cm hr-1 |
Irrigation Guidance for developing PRZM Scenarios, Table 1; (June 15, 2005). For CN = 79 and f = 0 |
|
|
||
|
Table 3. PRZM 3.12 Crop Parameters for San Diego, California – Avocado. |
||
|
Parameter |
Value |
Source/Comments |
|
Initial Crop (INICRP) |
1 |
Set to one for all crops (EPA, 2004). |
|
Initial Surface Condition (ISCOND) |
3 |
Orchard residues are left behind between rows, under trees are cleared to reduce disease. Consistent with the FL avocado scenario and other orchard type scenarios. |
|
Number of Different Crops (NDC) |
1 |
Set to number of crops in simulation. |
|
Number of Cropping Periods (NCPDS) |
30 |
Set to weather data in meteorological file: San Diego, CA (W23188). |
|
Maximum rainfall interception storage of crop (CINTCP) |
0.25 |
Recommended value for orchards (EPA, 2004). |
|
Maximum Active Root Depth (AMXDR) |
25 cm |
Set to horizon depth. Most of the roots for Haas avocados grown in an orchard with Cieneba soil type were located above 15 cm (Oster and Arpaia 2006) |
|
Maximum Canopy Coverage (COVMAX) |
70 |
Taken from FL avocados scenario |
|
Soil Surface Condition After Harvest (ICNAH) |
3 |
Plant residues are left behind. Consistent with the FL avocado scenario and other orchard type scenarios. |
|
Date of Crop Emergence (EMD, EMM, IYREM) |
01/01 |
Values are set to keep E/T and canopy coverage terms working correctly for this evergreen scenario. |
|
Date of Crop Maturity (MAD, MAM, IYRMAT) |
02/01 |
Values are set to keep E/T and canopy coverage terms working correctly for this evergreen scenario. |
|
Date of Crop Harvest (HAD, HAM, IYRHAR) |
31/12 |
Values are set to keep E/T and canopy coverage terms working correctly for this evergreen scenario. |
|
Maximum Dry Weight (WFMAX) |
0.0 |
Not used in scenario |
|
Maximum CropHeight (HTMAX) |
914 |
Avocado trees typically grow to 20-40 feet California Avocado Commission |
|
SCS Curve Number (CN) |
84, 79, 82 |
Gleams Manual Table H-4; meadows; hydrological group C (USDA, 1990) |
|
Manning's N Value (MNGN) |
0.023 |
RUSLE Project; C25CFCFN for California citrus with full cover (USDA, 2000). |
|
USLE C Factor (USLEC) |
0.040 - 0.062 |
RUSLE Project; C25CFCFN for California citrus with full cover (USDA, 2000). |
|
Table 4. PRZM 3.12 Cieneba Soil Parameters for San Diego, California – Avocado. |
||
|
Parameter |
Value |
Source/Comments |
|
Total Soil Depth (CORED) |
25 cm |
NRCS Soil Data Mart (SDM) (http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov) |
|
Number of Horizons (NHORIZ) |
2 |
NRCS Soil Data Mart (SDM) (http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov). The third horizon from SDM was excluded because it is bedrock. |
|
Horizon Thickness (THKNS) |
10 cm (HORIZN = 1) 15 cm (HORIZN = 2)
|
NRCS Soil Data Mart (SDM) (http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov). |
|
Bulk Density (BD) |
1.55 g/cm3 (HORIZN = 1) 1.55 g/cm3 (HORIZN = 2)
|
NRCS Soil Data Mart (SDM) (http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov). Midpoint of the reported range. PRZM Scenario Guidance (EPA, 2004). |
|
Initial Water Content (THETO) |
0.168 cm3/cm3 (HORIZN =1) 0.168 cm3/cm3 (HORIZN =2)
|
NRCS Soil Data Mart (SDM); values are mean 1/3-bar water contents of Cieneba coarse sandy loam soils. |
|
Compartment Thickness (DPN) |
0.1 cm (HORIZN = 1) 5 cm (HORIZN = 2)
|
NRCS Soil Data Mart (SDM) (http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov). PRZM Scenario Guidance (EPA, 2004). |
|
Field Capacity (THEFC) |
0.168 cm3/cm3 (HORIZN =1) 0.168 cm3/cm3 (HORIZN =2) |
NRCS Soil Data Mart (SDM); values are mean 1/3-bar water contents of Cieneba coarse sandy loam soils. |
|
Wilting Point (THEWP) |
0.08 cm3/cm3 (HORIZN =1) 0.08 cm3/cm3 (HORIZN =2) |
NRCS Soil Data Mart (SDM); values are mean 15-bar water contents of Cieneba coarse sandy loam soils. |
|
Organic Carbon Content (OC) |
0.44% (HORIZN = 1) 0.44% (HORIZN = 2)
|
NRCS SDM; values for horizons 1 to 3 = mean %OM / 1.724. PRZM Scenario Guidance (EPA, 2004). |
Figure 1. 2002 harvested acres for avocados based on USDA Census of Agriculture for California and conterminous United States (inset) Estimates do not include data for individual farms which NASS has excluded to protect the identify of individual farms.
|
Table 5. Avocado Bearing Soils of San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties (California) Ranked by Area. |
||||||||||||
|
Soil |
Total Acreage |
% Area |
Drainage |
Avocados-IrrYield (boxes) |
Erodibility |
Slopes (%) |
pH |
OM (%) |
% Sand |
% Silt |
% Clay |
Avocados-NIrrYield (boxes) |
|
332,986 |
37.12% |
C |
250-400 |
0.24-0.32 |
9-75 |
5.8-6.5 |
0.75 |
67.9-68.5 |
19-19.6 |
12.5 |
- |
|
|
74,863 |
8.35% |
B |
500-615 |
0.28-0.32 |
15-65 |
6.7 |
0.75 |
65.4-66.8 |
22.2-23.6 |
11 |
- |
|
|
62,334 |
6.95% |
D |
250 |
0.28-0.55 |
5-75 |
6.3-7.6 |
0.75 |
66.1-66.8 |
19.2-19.9 |
14 |
- |
|
|
57,147 |
6.37% |
-- |
375 |
- |
9-75 |
- |
0 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
49,991 |
5.57% |
D |
200 |
0.28 |
15-75 |
5.3-5.8 |
0.75-1.5 |
43-68.8 |
16.2-39.5 |
15-17.5 |
- |
|
|
38,078 |
4.25% |
A |
325-825 |
0.17-0.28 |
5-75 |
5.6-6.7 |
0.75 |
78.5-96 |
1.5-16.5 |
2.5-5 |
- |
|
|
34,528 |
3.85% |
B |
1000 |
0.17-0.28 |
0-9 |
8.2 |
3 |
18.1-68.8 |
16.2-50.9 |
15-31 |
- |
|
|
34,451 |
3.84% |
D |
150 |
0.2 |
30-70 |
6.3 |
1.5 |
66.1 |
19.9 |
14 |
- |
|
|
26,767 |
2.98% |
C |
250 |
0.2-0.32 |
30-75 |
8.2 |
2-3.5 |
18.1-35.4 |
33.6-50.9 |
31 |
- |
|
|
25,075 |
2.80% |
B |
300 |
0.17-0.2 |
9-50 |
7.2-7.6 |
2.5 |
35.4 |
33.6 |
31 |
- |
|
|
21,924 |
2.44% |
A |
300-330 |
0.15-0.28 |
0-15 |
5.8-6.7 |
0.75 |
80.5-96 |
1.5-17 |
2.5 |
- |
|
|
21,084 |
2.35% |
C |
250 |
0.17-0.28 |
30-50 |
6.1-6.1 |
2.5-3 |
35.4 |
33.6 |
31 |
- |
|
|
18,581 |
2.07% |
B |
400 |
0.2-0.28 |
0-15 |
6.5 |
3-4 |
34.2-41.6 |
33.6-37.4 |
21-31 |
- |
|
|
11,550 |
1.29% |
C |
325-1000 |
0.28-0.32 |
9-50 |
8.2 |
2-3 |
18.1 |
50.9 |
31 |
- |
|
|
10,936 |
1.22% |
B |
325-350 |
0.24-0.28 |
9-45 |
5.8-6.5 |
2.5 |
70.5 |
16.5 |
13 |
- |
|
|
10,843 |
1.21% |
B |
450-470 |
0.24 |
0-9 |
5.8 |
0.75 |
96 |
1.5 |
2.5 |
- |
|
|
9,622 |
1.07% |
B |
400 |
0.2 |
0-9 |
8.2 |
2.5 |
65.1 |
18.9 |
16 |
- |
|
|
9,036 |
1.01% |
B |
800-900 |
0.28 |
0-15 |
5.6-6.1 |
2 |
68.8 |
16.2 |
15 |
- |
|
|
8,355 |
0.93% |
B |
900 |
0.28 |
0-9 |
7.2 |
2 |
67.9 |
19.6 |
12.5 |
- |
|
|
6,803 |
0.76% |
D |
200 |
0.2 |
30-75 |
7.7-8.2 |
2 |
26.1 |
28.9 |
45 |
- |
|
|
6,670 |
0.74% |
D |
250-900 |
0.24 |
9-50 |
6.3 |
3 |
35.4 |
33.6 |
31 |
- |
|
|
5,652 |
0.63% |
B |
1000 |
0.24-0.28 |
0-9 |
7.2-7.5 |
3 |
45.4-70.5 |
16.5-41.6 |
13 |
- |
|
|
4,520 |
0.50% |
-- |
375 |
- |
15-50 |
- |
0 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
3,626 |
0.40% |
D |
300 |
0.37 |
15-50 |
6.1-6.7 |
1.5 |
68.8 |
16.2 |
15 |
- |
|
|
2,658 |
0.30% |
C |
250 |
0.24-0.43 |
0-2 |
8.2 |
2.5 |
18.1-66.8 |
19.2-50.9 |
14-31 |
- |
|
|
2,458 |
0.27% |
D |
200 |
0.2-0.24 |
30-50 |
7.3-7.5 |
2.5 |
22.1-23.3 |
27.9-29.2 |
47.5-50 |
- |
|
|
1,254 |
0.14% |
B |
325 |
0.28 |
2-9 |
6.1 |
1.5 |
68.8 |
16.2 |
15 |
- |
|
|
1,177 |
0.13% |
B |
325 |
0.28 |
9-15 |
6.7 |
0.75 |
67.2 |
15.3 |
17.5 |
- |
|
|
1,039 |
0.12% |
B |
375 |
- |
50-75 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
903 |
0.10% |
C |
500 |
0.32 |
0-2 |
8.2 |
2.5 |
68.1 |
14.4 |
17.5 |
- |
|
|
808 |
0.09% |
B |
1000 |
0.15-0.17 |
2-15 |
5.8 |
2.5 |
18.1-35.4 |
33.6-50.9 |
31 |
- |
|
|
629 |
0.07% |
-- |
375 |
- |
75-99 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
616 |
0.07% |
D |
300 |
0.37 |
30-50 |
5.8 |
1.5 |
67.5 |
21 |
11.5 |
- |
|
Works Cited
EPA. 1998. Carsel, R.F., J.C. Imhoff, P.R. Hummel, J.M. Cheplick, and A.S. Donigian, Jr. PRZM-3, A Model for Predicting Pesticide and Nitrogen Fate in the Crop Root and Unsaturated Soil Zones: Users Manual for Release 3.0. National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA.
EPA. 1999. Jones, R.D., J. Breithaupt, J. Carleton, L. Libelo, J. Lin, R. Matzner, and R. Parker. Guidance for Use of the Index Reservoir in Drinking Water Exposure Assessments. Environmental Fate and Effects Division, Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.
EPA. 2004. Abel, S.A. Procedure for Conducting Quality Assurance and Quality Control of Existing and New PRZM Field and Orchard Crop Standard Scenarios. Environmental Fate and Effects Division, Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.
EPA. 2005. Irrigation Guidance for developing PRZM Scenarios. June 15, 2005.
Oster JD, Arpaia ML. 2006. Effects of salinity and applied water on yields of 'Hass' avocado on Mexican seedling rootstock. Seminario: Manejo del riego y suelo en el cultivo del palto. 27-28 de Septiembre de 2006. 14 pages.
USDA. 1990. Davis, F.M., R.A. Leonard, W.G. Knisel. GLEAMS User Manual, Version 1.8.55. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Southeast Watershed Research Laboratory, Tifton, GA. SEWRL-030190FMD.
USDA. 1999a. Crop Profile for Avocados in California. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pest Management Centers. July 1999. Online at: http://www.ipmcenters.org/cropprofiles/caavocados.html
USDA. 1999b. Official Series Description – CIENEBA Series. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). May 1999. Online at: http://ortho.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/osd/dat/C/CIENEBA.html.
USDA. 2000. Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) EPA Pesticide Project. U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
USDA. 2002. 2002 Census of Agriculture. U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Online at: http://www.nass.usda.gov/census/census02/preliminary/2002censusdates.htm.
USDA. 2006. Soil Survey Areas of San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Soil Data Mart. March 1, 2006. Online at: http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov.