Welcome to the 1st quarter real estate recap for the city of Torrance.  Like all cities and towns, the coronavirus uncertainty has impacted real estate in Torrance CA as well.  Having said that due to a varied economy and employment and years of a strong housing market, Torrance is more insulated than most other areas but there’s no doubt it’s playing a large role in the current market.

April saw the fewest number of pending home sales in the past few years with only 45 homes going into escrow.  (see chart below)  Compare that with 110 pending sales a year earlier and it’s pretty clear we’re entering a much slower market.   Central Torrance and Plaza Del Amo was no exception with only 3 pending home sales in April compared with 13 pending sales in March and 10 in April 2019.

View the current homes for sale in Torrance The chart below shows the number of active listings (light green) sold homes (dark green) and pending home sales (red line)  The greater the discrepancy between active homes and sold homes indicates a buyers market and when the numbers are closer a sellers market is indicated as inventory is down.

The chart below shows the average price per square foot. Square footage in the South Bay often doesn’t mean as much as in other markets as values can vary so dramatically due to things such as proximity to the beach, views, specific neighborhoods.

The chart below shows the average days on market per month as well as the % of list price that homes sold at.  A high % indicates a sellers market as home sell at, or above list price.

The chart below shows the average price for listed home sales in relation to the average price for sold homes.

The chart below indicates the months of home inventory based on closed home sales.  Buyer’s market: more than 6 months of inventory  Seller’s market: less than 3 months of inventory  Neutral market: 3 – 6 months of  inventory