The number of properties offered at foreclosure auctions as a percentage of total housing units for sale has dwindled in some areas of California. According to housing analysts, the number of available distressed properties has declined in some markets, mainly because of federal regulators' scrutiny of lenders' foreclosure processes as a result of the robo-signing controversy last year.
Although the number of foreclosures for sale in San Jose and distressed properties for sale in other major metropolitan markets of California had remained elevated compared with other U.S. regions, certain areas of the state are experiencing declining numbers of distressed properties for sale. In Morongo Basin, realtors have reported that signs are there that the impact of the housing crisis is starting to diminish.
Foreclosures in California have been declining in the past few months, although they remain high when compared with most U.S. states. In Morongo Basin though, the number of distressed residences seemed to be ebbing faster than in other California markets. Realtors revealed that this can be attributed both to the increased attention given by regulators to foreclosure practices and also to the increased buying activities in the distressed property market. According to them, the region's REO and foreclosure inventory is starting to decline, mainly because buyers of such properties have increased.
A report issued by the Desert Communities Association of Realtors revealed that, currently, the region has 566 units of single family dwellings up for sale, with 60 of those available as short sales, while 85 are REOs or homes up for sale at foreclosure auctions. Aside from higher numbers of buyers, analysts claimed that most banks are taking longer in processing foreclosures nowadays after their procedures were questioned by lawmakers.
Realtors have reported that prices in the Basin are also showing signs of improvement. They stated that as foreclosure for sale numbers decline, prices go up. They also reported that most of the purchases are still centered on houses priced below $200,000, but they explained that this is not a sign of further market weakness since the trend has been there even during the real estate market boom. They further added that the supply of homes at this price range has diminished in the past few months.
Morongo Basin realtors are optimistic that the number of properties offered at foreclosure auctions will continue to decline in the coming months as more people enter purchase agreements. They also stated that prices are likely to pick up soon as distressed property supplies decline.



