A Look at the Future of the Housing Market

In some of the worst housing markets in the country, deflation has reached double-digit proportions. While housing woes have reached around the country, California appears to be poised to rank among the worse. One of the primary reasons for this is the fact that in the last several months California has experienced the largest rate of deflating home prices. In fact, home prices in California have fallen at levels that have been unprecedented. Miami, Florida is proving to be a very difficult market also. A weak mortgage market and record high foreclosures have led to a fall in home prices as well. Over the past 2 years, Miami has had one of the worst housing markets in the country. The high flying condo boom of just a few years ago has added to the problems of the current massive real estate bust. The high flying Florida and California markets may have been easy to predict as being the first ones to crumble when the real estate market took a turn, there are other markets on the verge of falling that were not so easy to see. In hindsight, it is easy to see the rapid increase in home values during the recent boom as an indicator of the coming crash. Other markets, however, did not rise as much or as quickly, which could be one reason why they have managed to avoid reaching the top of the list; at least until now. These markets include Nevada, Indiana, Arizona and Massachusetts. Declining home prices as well as high rates of foreclosures in these states are also contributing to their worsening real estate market conditions. In Michigan, where layoffs have been significant, the economy is playing a strong role. In the coming months, several million adjustable rate mortgages are scheduled to be reset which will only lead to an increase in problems for all markets. In the face of higher payments on their adjustable rate mortgages more and more homeowners will find themselves with the harsh reality of being unable to pay their mortgages. These homeowners will either face a short sell on their homes or an unpleasant foreclosure as refinancing options dry up. According to most statistics, the remainder of 2008 is still poised for problems in the housing market. Many statistics indicate that home values could continue to drop and new homes could experience a loss of up to 18 percent before the year is out. While there are some indications that the market could begin to level off at the end of 2008 or the beginning of 2009, many experts are quick to warn that when the market does begin to rebound it will not reach the point where it left off. In comparison to the housing peak of 2005, the rebounded market could still be quite a bit lower. Part of the reason for this is that in many areas, prices escalated so quickly that there is simply no way for prices to rebound back to that point. Still, there may be some hope for certain areas. In many markets sub-prime mortgages have either left the market through quick sales or foreclosure. The stimulus package that is on the horizon is anticipated to help the housing market in many areas. First-time home buyers are going to find relief much sooner than current home owners. Most homeowners are still reticent to sell and lose the paper equity they once had in their homes. Most homeowners aren't facing up to the reality that they can no longer get the same prices for their homes they could command just a few short years ago. Rid yourself of the worry about who is going to own your home. Arm yourself with the knowledge to avoid the foreclosure of your home.