Market Studies

The number of households owning homes rose to 75,076,000 in the third quarter from 74,832,000 in the second, but down from 75,251,000 a year ago, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday. At the same time, the nation's homeownership rate (seasonally adjusted) remained at 65.5 percent. The homeownership rate stayed near historic lows. The rate in the first quarter was 65.4 percent, the lowest since the first quarter of 1997.

U.S. home prices continued to increase in August as the Case Shiller 20-city Home Price Index increased 0.9 percent to its highest level since September 2010. The 20-city index is up 2.0 percent in the last year. The 10-city also rose 0.9 percent in August, increasing to 158.62, 1.3 percent ahead of August 2011 and the highest level since October 2010. The monthly gain in each index was slower than in July, when the 10-city index went up 1.5 percent and the 20-city index improved 1.6 percent. July also saw gains in all 20 index cities.

The cumulative default rate for commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) in the U.S. rose over the third quarter, largely due to an increase in defaults among office loans, according to the latest data from Fitch Ratings. The rate rose from 13.2 percent in the second quarter of this year to 13.5 percent in the third quarter, according to Fitch. The total amount in CMBS loans that defaulted in the third quarter was $2.2 billion. The total number of newly defaulted loans during the quarter is 119.

In the report from the Center for Responsible Lending, researchers conclude that based on the 10.9 million loans that entered foreclosure between 2007 and 2011, approximately $1.95 trillion in property value has been lost or will be lost by residents who live close to foreclosed properties. This estimate includes losses stemming from completed foreclosures and future losses projected on foreclosure starts. The average spillover cost per family is or will be $21,000 in household wealth, or 7 percent of median home value, according to the report.

In September, home prices improved in nearly all of the largest counties throughout the United States as tracked by DataQuick. According to the company's new Property Intelligence Report (PIR), home prices grew in 40 out of 42 counties month-over-month, while prices improved in all 42 counties from the previous quarter and over the last year. DataQuick suggested the PIR is displaying evidence the recovery in housing is underway, but the PIR found an uneven recovery, with some areas facing risk factors, such as high REO inventory.

Data from CoreLogic shows the nearly 284,000 properties at risk represent almost $88 billion. Based on early projections of Sandy's path, eight major metro areas in the Mid-Atlantic region--including New York, Philadelphia, and Boston--are at risk.

In September, foreclosure resales accounted for 19 percent of all homes that were resold, a decrease from 19.2 percent in August and 44.4 percent in September 2011. In March 2009, foreclosure resales peaked at 66.2 percent.

A sharp drop in distressed sales is one of the main drivers behind the steady rise in home prices seen in certain areas throughout the country, according to the monthly Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance HousingPulse survey. In September, the HousingPulse Distressed Property Index (DPI) hit a record low of 38.6 percent based on a three-month moving average. HousingPulse respondents reported major banks seem to be keeping many REO properties off the market this year, but suggested banks may look to release ""significant amounts"" of bank-owned properties next year, which could lead to lower home prices. When real estate agents were asked about the impact of the upcoming national elections, responses were mixed.

Consumer spending rose $87.9 billion, 0.8 percent, in September, twice the 0.4 percent growth in personal income, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Monday. While the increase in income matched economist expectations, the increase in spending was higher than the forecast. It was the third straight month spending grew faster than income.

The projected taxpayer cost to preserve the profitability of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is lower now that the GSEs are not expected to draw from Treasury to pay dividends and home prices are increasing, according to a report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency. So far, the GSEs have drawn $187.5 billion from Treasury. When assessing potential Treasury draws under three different scenarios, FHFA projects Treasury draws will range from $191 billion to $209 billion at the end of 2015, or an additional $3 to $22 billion in support.