Tag Archives: Home Prices

The latest home price gauge published by Standard & Poor's recorded its largest monthly decline since February 2009 and its largest annual decline since December 2009. The data has led the firm's top analysts to make the claim, ""The double-dip is almost here."" The closely watched S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices registered a decrease in residential property values in all 20 cities included in the study between September and October. Sixteen also posted declines from their October 2009 levels.

The number of contracts signed for purchases of previously owned homes climbed again in November, according to data released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) late last week. The organization's pending home sales index rose 3.5 percent based on contracts signed in November. That follows a record 10 percent jump recorded for the month of October and beat even the most modest market expectations. NAR describes the trend as indicative of ""a gradual recovery into 2011.""

According to the latest forecast from Veros Real Estate Solutions, select markets in the United States can expect 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent appreciation in home values over the next 12 months. Although only mild appreciation is anticipated, approximately 40 percent of all major metro areas are forecast to see property values go up in 2011. Veros places San Diego, California, at the top of the list in terms of strong price gains. Homes in Reno, Nevada, on the other hand, are projected to lose the greatest share of equity.

Frank Nothaft, chief economist for Freddie Mac, says he expects long-term mortgage rates to hold below the 5 percent threshold throughout 2011, as key macroeconomic drivers provide a backdrop that supports a continued, albeit gradual, housing recovery. Turning to home prices, Nothaft says markets that have large inventories of for-sale homes and REO properties will continue to see home-value weakness in 2011, but he believes price indexes for the U.S. as a whole are close to bottoming out.

Home prices bounced back slightly during the month of October, according to data released by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Wednesday. FHFA's house price index is calculated using purchase prices of homes backing mortgages that have been sold to or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It showed that residential property values rose 0.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from September to October, however, September's price change was revised downward.

Existing-home sales got back on an upward path in November, resuming a growth trend since bottoming in July, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported Wednesday. Sales of previously owned homes rose 5.6 percent last month. Distressed homes accounted for 33 percent of the month's total sales volume. Housing inventory at the end of November fell 4 percent to 3.71 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 9.5-month supply at the current sales pace.

The latest RE/MAX National Housing Report shows housing prices remaining relatively stable, with sales still experiencing some declines. The company's survey of 54 metropolitan areas revealed that November sales were 4.9 percent below October sales, and 25.9 percent below sales for November 2009. The average price drop was 1.7 percent from last November, however, 36 of the 54 metros posted price increases compared to their year-ago levels.

California continued to feel the housing slump in November with a 12.4 percent decrease in sales from last year, according to statistics from MDA DataQuick. An estimated 31,403 new and resale houses and condos were sold statewide last month -- down 3.9 percent from October. The median price paid for a home in California during the month of November was $255,000. Foreclosure sales made up 37.8 percent of the existing homes sold last month.

National home prices in October were down 3.93 percent from year-earlier levels, CoreLogic reported Thursday, marking the third month in a row the company's index has recorded an annual drop in residential property values. October's reading follows a 2.43 percent annual decline reported for the month of September and a 1.08 percent drop in August, signaling that the deterioration in home prices is getting progressively steeper with each passing month.

The average American's financial situation improved during the third quarter, according to data released by the Federal Reserve. The news is seen as a positive sign for the nation's mortgage markets, which have been stressed by an elevated number of borrowers struggling to fulfill their mortgage obligations because of deteriorating personal finances. The Fed says household wealth grew by 2.2 percent, or $1.2 trillion, during the third quarter as stock market gains offset the $700 billion that was lost on real estate assets.