HAPPYY HOLIDAYS from the KAUFMANS

Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda market update:

• 76 homes for sale in Lamorinda
• 38 in Lafayette, 14 in Moraga and 24 in Orinda
• 34 Lamorinda homes sold in December with the average list price at $953,669 the average sale price at $916,334 showing a 3.9% dip in home prices.

California Association of Realtors
Consumer confidence improves in DecemberThe Conference Board
Consumer Confidence Index improved to 64.5 (1985=100) in December, up from 55.2
in November. The Present Situation Index increased to 46.7 from 38.3, and the
Expectations Index rose to 76.4 from 66.4.

Consumers' assessment of current conditions improved in December. Those
stating business conditions are "good" increased to 16.6 percent from 13.9
percent, while those stating business conditions are "bad" declined to 33.9
percent from 38.0 percent. Consumers' assessment of the job market also was more
positive. Those claiming jobs are "plentiful" increased to 6.7 percent from 5.6
percent, while those claiming jobs are "hard to get" decreased to 41.8 percent
from 43 percent.

The Orange County Register
California house sales up, prices down
California home sales posted an increase both on a monthly and annual basis in November,
marking the fifth consecutive month of year-to-year sales increases, according to figures
released today from the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.). Meanwhile,
the statewide median price of an existing, single-family detached home sold in California rose 1
percent compared with October, but declined 5.2 percent compared with a year earlier.
Making sense of the story
 Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California rose to a
seasonally adjusted 503,570 units in November, up 2.1 percent from a revised 493,140
in October, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local
REALTOR® associations and MLSs statewide.
 November home sales also were up 2.3 percent from the revised 492,040 units sold
during the like period a year ago. The statewide sales figure represents what would be
the total number of homes sold during 2011 if sales maintained the November pace
throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence
home sales.
 The November statewide median price of an existing, single-family detached home sold
in California was $280,960, up 1 percent from $278,060 in October but down 5.2 percent
from the $296,480 median price recorded for November 2010.
 The Unsold Inventory Index for existing, single-family detached homes was 5 months in
November, down from 5.3 months in October and down from a 6.2-month supply in
November 2010. The index indicates the number of months needed to deplete the