Finance Blog
Spring 2011 Housing Market Prediction
Spring 2011 Housing Market Prediction
I’d like to start this look at real estate in 2011 by telling you that there are indeed green shoots coming up. I’d love to say that there are indications of people starting to think about buying homes and that lenders have relaxed lending standards so that more buyers can get financing and more homeowners can refinance.
I’d like to tell you that real estate property values are rising and that your home equity will be restored by year’s end.
The problem is I’d be lying if I told you the real estate housing market is returning to anything resembling normal.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of good news in my spring real estate 2011 market forecast. In short, I think the housing market is going to be very much the same as what we’ve been seeing over the past few years since the housing bubble burst, with maybe even more foreclosures than in 2010.
And the foreclosure numbers in 2010 were just awful. According to the Year-End 2010 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report from RealtyTrac, 2010 had a 2 percent increase in foreclosure filings over 2009, and an increase of 23 percent over 2008. One in forty-five U.S. housing units received a foreclosure filing—defined as a default notice, scheduled auction, or bank repossession—in 2010.
The top ten states for foreclosures in 2010 were:
- Nevada
- Arizona
- Florida
- California
- Utah
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Colorado
CoreLogic reported that in November 2010, just seven states saw home values rise from a year earlier. Forty-three states saw home values fall, and the average home price fell by over 5 percent from November 2009.
The top fifteen states with the biggest drop in home values were:
- Idaho -13.56%
- Alabama -11.18%
- Arizona -10.38%
- Oregon -9.26%
- Mississippi -8.37%
- Missouri -8.23%
- Florida -8.16%
- Delaware -8.01%
- Utah -7.78%
- Illinois -7.51%
- Washington -7.38%
- Montana -6.34%
- New Mexico -6.30%
- Wisconsin -6.10%
- Maryland -6.01%
If you look at the states on this list, the ones with the biggest drop in home prices are those with steep unemployment rates and a backload of foreclosures. One state surprisingly missing from this list is California.
While California has a high unemployment rate and a high state deficit and is losing residents, parts of the California housing market have come back, thanks to things like an extra home buyer state tax credit for the purchase of a new home.
But that doesn’t mean California’s real estate market has normalized. It hasn’t. And depending on the number of foreclosures the state has this year, its home prices could fall by the end of 2011.
Are there any bright spots? Mortgage interest rates remain low, though they are up from the very bottom in November 2010. And some lenders are beginning to consider allowing borrowers with credit scores of 500 to 600 to purchase homes with FHA loans (and higher down payments), which is good.
Still, builder sentiment is flat, and the new-construction industry is coming off its second-worst year ever. It seems as though real estate in 2011 could look a lot like it did in 2010.
Ilyce R. Glink is the author of several books, including 100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask and Buy, Close, Move In!. She blogs about money and real estate atThinkGlink.com and at the Home Equity blog for CBS MoneyWatch.
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Comment from John at ActiveRain:
Ilyce, I think it will different in different markets. I certainly don't think we are in for a Boom this year. I have been getting more inquiries from the Upper Midwest as folks are tiring of the winter snows…Have a Great Weekend!
http://activerain.com/blogsview/2117888/spring-2011-housing-market-predictions
Comment from Tommy at ActiveRain:
Ilyce- I know every market has some differences but as a whole it's been pretty tough over the last couple of years. My local market has not seen the decline in values and high rate of foreclosures that have been talked about all over the country. Things have started to pick up some here and I have a bright outlook for 2001, although I realize it will take years for the activity to get back to what we perceive to be normal.
http://activerain.com/blogsview/2117888/spring-2011-housing-market-predictions
Comment from Bryan at ActiveRain:
I think predictions for 2011 will be very market dependent. Within California, I know large markets in good areas that are doing very well. Silicon Valley luxury markets (or near luxury) are doing extremely well and sales are already pointing to a strong start for the year. It would not surprise me if Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Saratoga, Palo Alto, Atherton, Mountain View, Cupertino, and Sunnyvale all experience ASP and MSP increases in Q1 vs. Q4 of 2010 and Q1 2010.
http://activerain.com/blogsview/2117888/spring-2011-housing-market-predictions