by Calculated Risk on 7/12/2011 05:15:00 PM

Special Note: It now appears the NAR will release the benchmark revisions in August (ht Mary Ellen). These revisions are expected to show significantly fewer sales and lower levels of inventory for the last few years. Hopefully the new methodology will be fully disclosed. Also, hopefully the NAR will release sales and inventory for all revisions (not just the last year).

From DataQuick: Southland Home Sales Quicken, Median Price Highest This Year

Southern California home sales last month shot up more than usual from May to the highest level for any month since June 2010, when the market got its last big boost from homebuyer tax credits. Sales of lower-cost homes, driven by investors and first-time buyers, and even high-end sales continued to outshine traditional move-up activity in middle price ranges ...

A total of 20,532 new and resale houses and condos sold in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Ventura, San Bernardino and Orange counties in June. That was up 11.6 percent from 18,394 in May but down 14.0 percent from 23,871 in June 2010, according to San Diego-based DataQuick.
...
Builders continue to suffer on a scale not seen in decades: The 1,395 newly built houses and condos sold last month marked a 36 percent drop from a year earlier and the lowest new-home total for a June in DataQuick’s records.
...
Distressed property sales accounted for just over half of the Southland resale market last month. Roughly one out of three homes resold was a foreclosure, while almost one in five was a “short sale.”

This is another report suggesting an increase in existing home sales in June compared to the reported 4.81 million sold in May on a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) basis (before the benchmark revisions).

On New Home sales: My understanding is DataQuick reports when the escrow closes, and the Census Bureau reports when a contract is signed. It usually takes about 6 months to close (builders usually build to contract with few speculative homes these days). So this low level is related to the Census Bureau reports for 6 months ago. Also, last year, June sales (reported at close) were boosted by the housing tax credit.

National existing home sales for June will be reported on July 20th, and new home sales will reported on July 26th.