Home / News / Market Studies / Capital Economics Warns of Another Dip Ahead
Print This Post Print This Post

Capital Economics Warns of Another Dip Ahead

The analysts at ""Capital Economics"":http://www.capitaleconomics.com say that dreaded double-dip is already underway, in both housing activity and residential property prices.
[IMAGE] ""It is becoming clear that the housing market cannot stand on its own two feet,"" said Paul Dales, U.S. economist for the international research firm.

Dales and his team are forecasting home prices in the United States to steadily decline over the next 12 months. The Capital Economics House Price Model suggests that by the end of next year, prices will have fallen back by just over 5 percent, taking them to a new cycle low.

""Prices may not regain their previous peak for a decade,"" Dales said.

The agency says in an upside scenario, in which the economy is stronger than its analysts expect, prices may

[COLUMN_BREAK]

not fall. In a downside scenario, though, prices could drop by another 20 percent.

According to Capital Economics' latest report on U.S. housing markets, Illinois, Florida, California, and Nevada appear the most vulnerable to further home price declines. Alaska, the District of Columbia, Maine, and West Virginia seem the best placed to weather another downturn.

Mortgage applications for home purchase have remained weak despite the plunge in mortgage rates to a record low. Capital Economics says ""even the mortgage bargain of a lifetime has not been enough to bring the market back to life.""

The company's analysts predict housing demand will remain ""unusually weak"" for at least the next three years. At the same time, supply is set to stay ""unusually high.""

Relative to today's demand, Capital Economics says there are currently about 1.5 million too many homes up for sale. And a steady flow of foreclosures will mean that excess supply will continue to grow.

According to Capital Economics' report, the bulk of the 2.5 million households that are already in foreclosure and the 2.4 million that are at least 90 days past due will at some point be put up for sale.

""The economy will not be able to support a decent housing recovery,"" the company's analysts wrote. ""Income growth will stay muted, unemployment will stay high, and the threat of deflation will rise.""

About Author: Carrie Bay

Carrie Bay is a freelance writer for DS News and its sister publication MReport. She served as online editor for DSNews.com from 2008 through 2011. Prior to joining DS News and the Five Star organization, she managed public relations, marketing, and media relations initiatives for several B2B companies in the financial services, technology, and telecommunications industries. She also wrote for retail and nonprofit organizations upon graduating from Texas A&M University with degrees in journalism and English.
x

Check Also

Real Estate Investor Activity Down in Q4

Investor market shares fell relative to the previous year from February to August 2023, but increased year-over-year by the end of Q3. However, how do these numbers fit into the big picture?