Giving The Old Housing Narrative An Axe

Last night’s axe-throwing (note the hipster “e” in ax) party at a Brooklyn bar was perhaps the most “hipster-ish thing I’ve ever done in my life. It was a “sharper” version of bowling, but for “edgy” people who have an “axe to grind.” I reached out for advice on Twitter beforehand and it paid off. I won the tournament (but trophy shops don’t have “axe” versions since the sport is so new (click on the tweet for the tips that made it happen!)

But I “sharply” digress…

Hamptons Sellers Gave Largest Discounts In Two Years

I’ve been the author of the expanding Elliman Report market report series for Douglas Elliman Real Estate for 25 years and it feels like 2. How time flies.

My research was published by Douglas Elliman yesterday and Bloomberg included a chart in the piece. As loyal Housing Notes readers understand: charts are what life’s all about (aside from becoming a grandfather this month, obviously).

I don’t have proof this week but the report coverage by Bloomberg read by the 350K± Bloomberg Terminal subscribers made the top 20 most read yesterday. I don’t really need proof now that I already proved I can throw an ax.

Elliman Report: Q4-2019 Hamptons Sales
Elliman Report: Q4-2019 North Fork Sales
Elliman Report: Q4-2019 Long Island Sales

Decade Reports (No commentary)

Elliman Report: 2010-2019 Hamptons and North Fork Decade
Elliman Report: 2010-2019 Long Island Decade

Here are some key points made in these Q4-2019 reports:

________________________________________________
HAMPTONS HIGHLIGHTS

“Rapid listing inventory gains over the past year took a breather this quarter.”

– Median sales price fell year over year for the third time in four quarters
– The second-lowest number of fourth-quarter sales in eleven years
– The number of sales increased annually for the first time in eight quarters
– Listing inventory fell year over year for the first time in five quarters
– Condo listing inventory and sales rose year over year for the third straight quarter
– Single-family sales rose year over year for the first time in eight quarters
– Luxury listing inventory rose year over year to the highest fourth-quarter tracked in eight years
– Luxury median sales price fell sharply year over year for the second straight quarter

________________________________________________
NORTH FORK HIGHLIGHTS

“Price trend indicators and sales rose year over year.”

– Median sales price rose year over year for the second time in three quarters
– Despite the surge in sales, four-quarter transactions were the second-lowest in seven years
– Listing inventory stabilized year over year after four straight quarters of gains
– Marketing time and negotiability expanded from year-ago levels
– Condo listing inventory declined year over year for the third straight quarter
– Single-family sales rose year over year for the second time in three quarters
– Luxury sales over $2 million surged from the nominal sales last year
– Luxury listing inventory fell to its lowest level in three years

________________________________________________
LONG ISLAND HIGHLIGHTS

“Listing inventory fell to a record low as sales and prices continued to rise.”

– The median sales price has not seen a year over year decline in twenty-seven quarters
– After rising annually for three straight quarters, listing inventory fell to a record low
– Number of sales were up year over year for the fourth time in five quarters
– Condo median sales price has not seen a year over year decline in twenty-one quarters
– After rising annually for three straight quarters, condo listing inventory fell to a record low
– Single-family median sales price rose year over year for twenty consecutive quarters
– Single-family listing inventory fell year over year for the first time in four quarters
– Luxury median sales price rose year over year for the third time in four quarters
– Luxury listing inventory increased year over year for eight straight quarters

The Brick Underground Podcast: 1-23-20 I Talk “Peak Uncertainty”

I joined Emily Myers of Brick Underground for my third interview on their podcast series. The discussion topics are covered here: The Brick Underground Podcast: How does NYC real estate move past ‘peak uncertainty’ in 2020.

After 700 Years Of Falling Interest Rates, Low Rates Today Shouldn’t Surprise

Since the financial crisis, I’ve looked at the phenomenon of low-interest rates as an inherent “hangover” effect of the financial crisis. Central banks around the world are close to 0%.

Mortgage rates have fallen sharply over the past year as the Fed tries to save the economy from the trade war. But perhaps this recent decline is just part of the macro trend over the last 700 years of recorded history?

And remember, Falling rates = rising asset prices. Next up? Negative interest rates.

The Real Estate Celebrity Effect Is In The Eyes Of The Lister

In one of the strongest U.S. luxury real estate markets of 2019 that boasted at least three sales just above and below $100,000,000, there are ten substantial listings around Mar-a-Lago that have been languishing on the market for an unusually long length of time. My contrarian theory in the Bloomberg piece is that homeowners adjacent to a celebrity property assume that it rubs off on them (their property value). I have never been a believer in the celebrity-effect pushing values above market levels. The quotes provided by some of the brokers don’t help that case for the higher value.

My favorite quote for explaining the lack of movement among these ten listings was quite amazing:

“It’s like when people get cancer and then they sue the power company and try to prove it came from the power lines.”

Wow.

More Sales In The Wealthier Areas Of LA, But Prices Aren’t

The Real Deal LA wrote a great summary of the results of our LA analysis (Downtown+WestSide+Malibu) for Douglas Elliman. Mansion Global noted the uptick in Luxury Condo Sales.

Elliman Report: Q4-2019 Los Angeles Westside + Downtown
Elliman Report: Q4-2019 Venice + Mar Vista
Elliman Report: Q4-2019 Malibu + Malibu Beach

And let’s not forget about Ski Country!

Elliman Report: Q4-2019 Aspen + Snowmass Village

GREATER LOS ANGELES INCLUDING WESTSIDE AND DOWNTOWN SALES HIGHLIGHTS

Trends
“After six quarters of year over year declines, sales increased in the final quarter of 2019.”

– All price trend indicators rose year over year for the third straight quarter
– Listing inventory fell annually for the first time in seven quarters
– The number of sales increased year over year after six consecutive quarters of declines
– Single-family listing inventory fell annually for the first times after six quarters of gains
– Condo sales rose sharply year over year after five consecutive declines
– Luxury listing inventory for single-families increased while condos declined respectively from the same period last year

Here are some key points made in these Q4-2019 reports:

_____________________________________________________________________________
GREATER LOS ANGELES INCLUDING WESTSIDE AND DOWNTOWN SALES HIGHLIGHTS

“After six quarters of year over year declines, sales increased in the final quarter of 2019.”

– All price trend indicators rose year over year for the third straight quarter
– Listing inventory fell annually for the first time in seven quarters
– The number of sales increased year over year after six consecutive quarters of declines
– Single-family listing inventory fell annually for the first times after six quarters of gains
– Condo sales rose sharply year over year after five consecutive declines
– Luxury listing inventory for single-families increased while condos declined respectively from the same period last year

_____________________________________________________________________________
VENICE/MAR VISTA

“Sales moved higher year over year across all the market segments.”

_____________________________________________________________________________
MALIBU/MALIBU BEACH

“Sales showed stability or pressed higher year over year across all the market segments.”

_____________________________________________________________________________
ASPEN SALES HIGHLIGHTS

“Price per square foot moved higher as listing inventory declined across the region.”

– The second straight quarter with a year over year increase in average price per square foot
– Listing inventory fell short of year-ago levels for the third consecutive quarter
– The first decline in the number of sales after four quarters of annual gains
– Condo average price per square foot rose year over year for the second time in three quarters
– Single-family sales increased annually for the third time in four quarters
– After four quarters of year over year declines, the luxury average price per square foot surged
– Luxury listing inventory declined annually for the first time after five consecutive quarters of increases

_____________________________________________________________________________
SNOWMASS VILLAGE SALES HIGHLIGHTS

“Year to date overall sales and price trends were up, and listing inventory was down.”

– The sixth year over year increase in average price per square foot in the last seven quarters
– Listing inventory declined year over year for the third consecutive quarter
– The number of sales declined annually for the third time in the last four quarters
– Condo average price per square foot increased year over year for the fifth straight quarter
– Single-family listing inventory has declined year over year for three straight quarters
– Listing inventory fell sharply year over year for the third time in four quarters
– Average price per square foot declined year over year for the second time in three quarters

Getting Graphic

My favorite chart of the week

Upcoming Speaking Event

Appraiserville

(For earlier appraisal industry commentary, visit my old clunky REIC site.)

Some Cobras Might Want To Look In The Mirror

In 2016 I began to wage a battle with the Appraisal Institute to bring to light how they were working against the residential appraisers’ interests by going to state legislatures (largely, Scott DeBiasio). What triggered my outrage was their attempt to take control over the local finances of each chapter and I’m not even a member. Their lack of residential representation continues today but the difference is, the appraisal industry’s deeper understanding of AI’s past behavior, linkage with AMCs including past senior officers who run them and lack of effectiveness in moving residential forward.

One of my thought processes during the effort was being forced to “choose sides” between The Appraisal Foundation and the Appraisal Institute because AI was doing everything they could to attack TAF. The residential industry was already being crushed by fees, partly due to AI’s alliances with REVAA and the legacy of past AI leadership working at or running AMCs.

Like most appraisers, I am frustrated by the argument that USPAP has to be continually updated and the realization that most of our industry simply can’t keep up with the changes. Setting standards is a good thing and I recognize and appreciate all the hard work that people on TAF do. My issue is the frequency of change and that’s what residential appraisers need to see changed.

And then comes this bombshell new book “Dispatches from the Cosmic Cobra Breeding Farm” that I received this week and wow, the writing style of the author Jeremy Bagott is spectacular. This guy can write. The book cover looks like an Isaac Asimov sci-fi novel but it reads like Stephen King, full of current cultural references. I got it this week and have nearly read the whole thing.

The book’s favorite target is TAF president Dave Bunton who is referenced dozens of times and portrayed as the source of the problem, and references Dave’s $760,000 compensation.

TAF responded with a note to correct the misstatement.

Since it seems to be well-known that Jim Amorin, CEO of AI makes around $400K as a base salary, I would think the other ancillary benefits bring the number a lot higher. Jim’s predecessor made about $350K as a base salary, plus benefits.

To which Jeremy responded:

CRYPTIC MEMO CLAIMS FOUNDATION DEALT BUNTON INTERNAL RETIREE PAYOUT PLUS CEO PAY IN 2017

An unsigned, undated memo on Appraisal Foundation letterhead was posted to the blog site “Valuation Nation” on January 22. The memo, citing “inaccurate” reporting in an unnamed recently published book, sought to further explain the 2017 annual pay of David S. Bunton, president of the Appraisal Foundation. The $760,000 pay package for the head of the 14-employee nonprofit, categorized as “compensation” in the Foundation’s Form 990, was reported to have included both an annual CEO pay component alongside an internal retirement-related payout.

“There are many open questions about the internal retirement component of Bunton’s pay if this memo is accurate,” said Jeremy Bagott, author of Dispatches from the Cosmic Breeding Farm, a book dealing with waste and abuse in appraiser oversight. “For example, have any additional sequenced internal retirement accounts been set up by his compensation committee or anyone else? One thing is clear: Bunton was no retiree in 2017. Nor was he one in 2018 or 2019. Even a onetime internal payout could have the effect of underreporting his pay over the coming years. Part of this haul was once our money, public money,” said the author.

Bagott contacted David Greer, Director of Communications for the nonprofit, seeking further comment. As of this writing, an email to Greer was unreturned.

Honestly, I found the author’s reasoning: “Bunton was no retiree in 2017. Nor was he one in 2018 or 2019. Even a onetime internal payout could have the effect of underreporting his pay over the coming years” was oddly weak and panicky, inconsistent with his strong writing style in the book.

I appreciate the distinction between AI and TAF but look at the performance of AI on behalf of their residential membership – it’s been zero.

The key point made in Jeremy’s book was the phrase “incorporation by reference” which focuses on the

“…public’s inability to access privately copyrighted standards once they’ve been incorporated by reference into public regulations. By “access,” read “purchase.”

This is reported to be a growing problem in law where copyrighted material becomes law, yet access to it is restricted. This insight is something for us to focus on going forward.

One flaw in Jeremy’s presentation, besides misstating Dave Bunton’s salary is that while Jeremy holds an “MAI” designation, the “MAI” designation of the Appraisal Institute is embedded into many state laws a la “incorporation by reference” because those laws require the use of an “MAI” in commercial appraisals in order for the appraiser to get the work. Selecting an MAI over an equally qualified commercial appraiser is now illegal under FIRREA. However, AI has continued to push for things like branded AI classes. One other thing, I thought the characterization of the ASC director was misrepresentative of what actually happened and seemed to be more of a cheap shot, again for effect. I know him and from direct experience, that guy is brutally ethical.

So to summarize the Cobra book:

– It is superbly well written and articulates the problems facing residential appraisers, in particular, today
– The “incorporation by reference” is a smart way to look at the appraiser regulatory situation
– The “nail in the coffin” point made throughout the book about Dave Bunton’s salary and the ASC director was, unfortunately, inaccurate replacing the author’s interpretation as the “fact” and detracts from the broader message.
– I’m a bit surprised that the author, as an MAI, didn’t speak to AI’s “incorporation by reference” practice itself since there has been a “Cosmic” battle between AI and TAF for years as AI has fought hard to replace TAF.

Still, I’d read the book for its articulation on where residential appraisers sit today in the mortgage finance ecosystem. It’s brilliant.

OFT (One Final Thought)

Brilliant Idea #1

If you need something rock solid in your life (particularly on Friday afternoons) and someone forwarded this to you, or you think you already subscribed, sign up here for these weekly Housing Notes. And be sure to share with a friend or colleague if you enjoy them because:

– They’ll be more cosmic;
– You’ll be more like a cobra;
– And I’ll keep throwing that ax.

Brilliant Idea #2

You’re obviously full of insights and ideas as a reader of Housing Notes. I appreciate every email I receive and it helps me craft the next week’s Housing Note.

See you next week.

Jonathan J. Miller, CRP, CRE, Member of RAC
President/CEO
Miller Samuel Inc.
Real Estate Appraisers & Consultants
Matrix Blog
@jonathanmiller

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