10 facts about todays real estate market.

1. Market Facts in Uncertain Times NAR Research September 2010

2. Economic and Market Facts Informed consumers make smarter decisions. The economy is soft and consumer confidence remains low. Housing affordability is at generational high. Home values in many markets have returned to historically justifiable levels. Most economists expect home values to rise in upcoming years, though not at a fast pace. Bad loans are nearly always made in good times. But recently originated loans are performing very well. Patient homeowners over the long-term do much better than renters in attaining wealth.

3. Fact 1: The Economy is Growing, though Slowly GDP annualized % growth rate

4. Fact 2: Private Sector Finally Creating Some Jobs (Government jobs were not included since many could be temporary from stimulus measures) Monthly Net Private Payroll Job Changes in Thousands

5. Fact 3: Consumer Confidence Remains Low, though Clearly Off Bottom Index by The Conference Board

6. Fact 4: The 30-year Mortgage Rate at Generational Lows(Very accommodative Federal Reserve monetary policy helping, but for how long?)

7. Fact 5: National Median Home Price Stabilizing(Combination of price change and type of homes that are selling)

8. Fact 6: Other Home Price Measurements also Showing Price Stabilization

9. Fact 7: Home Price-to-Income Ratio Have Returned to Fundamentally Justifiable Levels Source: NAR

10. Fact 8: Economists Expect Price Increases in Upcoming Years Macromarkets, a firm associated with Professor Robert Shiller, surveys about 100 economists about home price outlook. The consensus forecast as of August 2010 (which can be found from Macromarkets or from news media stories such as Wall Street Journal) are for 0.78% price increase in 2011 2.43% price increase in 2012 3.20% price increase in 2013 3.69% price increase in 2014 No forecast for 2015 and beyond

11. Fact 9: Delinquencies Are High but Recent Loan Originations Performing Well Due to Past Lending Mistakes the Bad Loans are still working through the system Banker’s Afterthought is nearly always that “Bad Loans are made in Bubble Times.” But Mortgage Delinquency Rate may have peaked. According to Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgage delinquencies fell to 9.85 percent in second quarter 2010 from 10.1 percent in the first quarter. Various reports suggest good loan performance on recently originated mortgages (see government reports on loan performance of government backed mortgages). One-third of homeowners own their homes free-and-clear. They are not included in mortgage delinquency statistics. Loan approval is more difficult, which explains for better recent loan performance. There is a better approval chance if the borrower stays well within budget.

12. Fact 10: Long-Term Path to Self Reliance may be Helped from Long-Term Housing Wealth Gains (2010 data to be published in 2012 by the Federal Reserve) Median Family Net Worth Source: Federal Reserve