The real estate market of today is an amalgamation of foreclosures, bank owned homes, and distressed sellers.  These circumstances have lead to unbelievable deals financially for those willing to make a quick decision and a commitment.  The market as it is now is inefficient and lacking order.  People who are buying are often seeking bargains meaning they’ll either pounce on the first and best deal they see out there, or they’re willing to wait a few months before swooping in for the purchase in a short sale process.  And still others prefer to take part in a chaotic bidding war for a bank-owned house being auctioned.  This leaves little room for the traditional, more relaxed methods of buying a house.  Buying houses on a whim is not everyone’s style however. 

There are several aspects artificially limiting the supply of residential property and at least temporarily bringing the housing market back to a more orderly, less chaotic fashion.  Some of these aspects include:

– New statutes requiring banks to engage in negotiations to work-it-out with homeowners before foreclosing
– The federal government asking for a voluntary cessation on foreclosures

– Borrowers filing lawsuits and bankruptcies

– The promise of bailout money for financially strapped borrowers.

 

Perhaps in response to these aspects, and perhaps not there has been a slowing of declining home prices and an increase in sales recently.  On top of that, interest rates on 30-year fixed loans remain extremely low.  And although unemployment is still increasing, median income appears to remain unchanged across the nation.

Overall, it is expected that market value of homes will continue to decline, but at a slower pace.  For the foreseeable future, the markets will be mixed, troubled and unpredictable.  In other words, don’t expect the current status quo to go away anytime soon.

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