Market Studies

The time properties stay in distress before going to sale has increased nearly five fold since 2003 in non-judicial states, according to CoreLogic's March MarketPulse report. The data provider tracked months in distress from 2003 to 2012 and found the disposition timeline in both judicial and non-judicial states has seen a significant extension. In judicial states, the disposition timelines remained relatively constant at seven months but began to rise in mid-2008 before increasing to an average of 35 months. In non-judicial states, it takes about 24 months before a distressed property goes to sale.

In the fourth quarter of 2012, about 200,000 residential properties transitioned out of a state of negative equity, bringing the 2012 yearly total to 1.7 million properties, CoreLogic reported. According to the data provider, there were still 10.4 million homeowners who were underwater as of the end of Q4; the figure represents 21.5 percent of all residential properties with a mortgage. Out of the 10.4 million properties, 1.8 million have a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio between 100 and 105 percent. Thus, these properties need prices to rise by 5 percent to transfer into positive territory.

Housing permits rose a sharp 4.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 946,000 in February to the highest level since June 2008, while housing starts edged up 0.8 percent to 917,000, the Census Bureau and HUD reported jointly Tuesday. Most--almost 62 percent--of the increase in permits came in applications to build multifamily units.

The Census Bureau and HUD released the results of its new 2012 Rental Housing Finance Survey, revealing that one in five American households live in multifamily rental buildings. The survey, which was conducted in the winter and early spring of 2012, found that there are nearly 2.3 million multifamily rental properties in the United States, 67 percent of which are owned by households or individuals. Among other findings: 1,337, or 59.4 percent, of multifamily rental properties examined in the survey have at least one mortgage.

Zillow and Pulsenomics surveyed a nationwide panel of 118 economists, real estate experts, and investment and market strategists to get their thoughts on future home values and housing market policies. On average, the panel forecasts price growth of 4.6 percent in 2013 and 4.2 percent in 2014. More moderate growth averaging 4.1 percent is expected to follow into 2017. The panel also responded to questions on refinance options for underwater borrowers, with the majority expressing support for proposals that would allow certain underwater borrowers to refinance

More than one-third of homes were taken off the market in two weeks or less last month, Redfin revealed in its most recent monthly housing report. On average, 34 percent of homes were under contract within 14 days of their debut in February, an increase from 30.3 percent in January, the online real estate broker reported. Redfin also reported a continued year-over-year decrease in inventory, which has fallen 32 percent from February 2012.

REO inventory declined at an accelerated pace in 2012 as investor activity intensified, but the impact of the reduction has been uneven across markets, according to an analysis from CoreLogic. In the data provider's March MarketPulse report, economist Sam Khater explained markets in the Midwest and Northeast are still struggling with REO inventory, while the South and Southwest are seeing ""massive"" declines. The decline suggests an increase in investment activity from both individual and institutional investors, with different contributions from the investor types.

Builder confidence slipped in March to 44, the lowest level since October, the National Association of Home Builders Monday. Economists had expected the Housing Market Index, the measure of confidence, to improve to 47 from February's reading of 46. It was the second straight monthly decline in the index and the third straight month the index failed to increase (it was flat from December to January). Tighter inventories had been expected to improve confidence, but builder attitudes have also been weighed down by prices of new single-family homes.

A longtime provider of mortgage industry outreach services announced it is closing its doors for good. Titanium Solutions, founded in 1999 and based in South Carolina since 2008, said its services aren't as in-demand as they once were with the market now in recovery. In a statement sent to its vendors, the company said the use of face-to-face outreach has experienced a ""precipitous decline,"" attributable to ""improving mortgage delinquency rates, declining foreclosures, and improved servicer processes."" All outstanding work assignments are being returned to clients.

It's been two weeks since the dreaded sequester took effect, and so far, the only casualty has been the White House tour. There actually have been some positives, with both parties presenting budgets. However, both the GOP budget and the Democratic plan have one major similarity: Each is dead on arrival and destined to at best be a one-house budget, which leaves the country back where it was. Setting a target for practical balance would bring us closer to reducing the deficit and with less pain.