How Low Can Housing Prices Go?

99. As the bubble continues it's long grinding deflation we are seeing a classic 'buyers-strike', the spring buyers haven't appeared despite historically low interest rates and home prices continue to be discounted over asking prices of just 2-3 months ago.

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101. Here is the national home purchase application index. It measures the applications in process to buy a new home. The survey is pretty solid in that about 50% of large lenders are surveyed every week. If this was an EKG, the patient is dying, get the paddles stat!

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105. The spike you see in Q1 2010 is the end of the home buyer tax credits and a major push by the FED to push mortgage rates down. As the tax credits expired on a Federal and state level the number of new buyers started to disappear. Then during Q3 2010 and Q4 2010 we had excellent fixed mortgage interest rates

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This prompted another group of buyers to get an application in and start the home buying process. Then because of inflation, Federal government budget issues, and prospects for a better national economic environment(b.s.), mortgage rates moved back up again from the best levels in history. The amount of inventory that will be coming onto the local real estate market is huge:

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These are foreclosed homes currently owned by Fannie, Freddie and FHA. They may or may not be on the market yet. Some are in need of repair, some are listed etc. As with all goods/services, supply and demand will lead the market to adjust prices. I fully expect much lower(10-25%) prices in some former bubble states. If people are concerned about jobs and unemployment is around 9-10% you can't expect any stability in housing, in the golden state unemployment is 12.3%, ouch.

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114. Now with the recent wallet shock of $4 gas on the household and business budget it's going to be a tough spring selling season. Blockbuster closing hundreds of stores, Borders doing the same it doesn't broadcast confidence to people as they go about their daily lives.

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116. Buyers... remember it's an asking price. Bargain accordingly. Here is your jumbo mortgage rate chart as well:

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Job Market Improvement Boosts Jumbo Loan Rates

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ADP reports:

Private-sector employment increased by 297,000 from November to December on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the latest ADP National Employment Report� released today. The estimated change of employment from October to November was revised down but only slightly, from the previously reported increase of 93,000 to an increase of 92,000.

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147. This month�s ADP National Employment Report suggests nonfarm private employment grew very strongly in December, at a pace well above what is usually associated with a declining unemployment rate. After a mid-year pause, employment seems to have accelerated as indicated by September�s employment gain of 29,000, October�s gain of 79,000, November�s gain of 92,000 and December�s gain of 297,000. Strength was also evident within all major industries and every size business tracked in the ADP Report.

This latest report came in very strong vs estimates of about 100k new jobs added in this period. This has resulted in an small early morning rally on Wall St. Stocks  are slightly higher but the biggest change is a rise in the 10Y Treasury from 3.33% to 3.45% as of 12:11 EST. We have seen a boost in mortgage rates across the board. Market based jumbo loan programs are up about .125%-.25% from yesterdays best levels. The plane is boarding don't be late before the captain shuts the door on 5% fixed jumbo loan rates.