Tag Archives: Clear Capital

Clear Capital recently released its Home Data Index Market Report, which found the best deals in the housing market now reside in the middle-tier of available homes. The group found that following more than two years of recovery, low-tier homes are no longer the best value for homebuyers.

Market analysts are dialing back on their expectations for the housing sector this year following reports of continued sluggishness in what should have been the start of a busier season. Sales of both new and existing homes in March fell short of expectations, dashing optimistic projections of a rebound following the end of an unusually harsh winter.

Freddie Mac has selected Clear Capital to power its collateral review of appraisals submitted through the Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCDP). Clear Capital will provide the government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) with in-depth feedback regarding the quality and accuracy of appraisals.

Clear Capital, a provider of data and solutions for real estate asset valuation and collateral risk assessment, released its Home Data Index Market Report with data through March, 2014. The report noted that the frosty winter left home prices mostly flat, while saturation of distressed homes remained stable at 21.8 percent.

While many price indicators have pointed to slowdowns over the last few months, the latest trend could be the start of something worse, says Dr. Alex Villacorta, VP of research and analytics at Clear Capital. The company’s Home Data Index (HDI) Market Report, recorded only a 1 percent gain in home prices over the quarter ending last month.

As home prices continue to soar year-over-year and commentators draw lines to historical averages, Clear Capital offers one piece of advice to all those waiting to see a national peak anytime soon: Don’t hold your breath. In its latest Home Data Index Market Report, the company says the market won’t reach peak prices again until 2021 at its current rate of growth.

In a report released this week, Clear Capital linked high levels of distressed sales activity with high levels of home price appreciation, something that may seem out of the ordinary. However, in a conversation with DS News Wednesday, the company's VP of research and analytics explained that this trend is in keeping with the ""first-in-first-out"" recovery the nation has been experiencing over the past 18 months.

While analysts across the industry are reporting waning price gains as we head toward winter, Clear Capital also points out another interesting and perhaps counterintuitive trend occurring in the housing market. Prior to the recovery, high saturations of distressed sales correlated with falling prices, but today's market reveals a switch, with high levels of distressed sales taking place alongside higher price gains.

August price gains were reminiscent of those last seen during the peak of the bubble--but analysts at Clear Capital insist there's nothing to fear at this point. ""With the continued strengthening of home price trends in August, the need for perspective on market activity is even more important,"" said Dr. Alex Villacorta, VP of research and analytics at Clear Capital. Looking under the surface trends, Villacorta notes the low-tier price segment of the housing market saw quarterly gains of 2.0 percent, indicating a more moderate growth path.

RealtyTrac observed 100 large metro areas across the country for evidence of recovery based on seven indicators, including unemployment rate, the rate of underwater homeowners, the change in foreclosure activity from its peak, the change in median home price from its trough, the percentage of distressed sales, the share of sales to institutional investors, and the share of cash sales. Rochester, New York, topped the index with several positive indicators, including low unemployment, low underwater rates, low distressed sales, rising home prices, and a large drop in foreclosures.