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�� IN THE NEWS Colorado rank: 47 90+ Day Delinquency Rate Foreclosure Rate december 2012 1.72% Unemployment Rate 1.07% 7.6% year ago 2.05% 1.66% 7.9% percent point change -16.2% -35.2% -3.8% Top County Las animas CounTy 90+ Day Foreclosure Delinquency Rate Rate december 2012 3.33% 2.98% year ago 3.30% 2.54% percent point change 1.0% 17.1% Top Core-Based statistical area monTrose, Co 90+ Day Delinquency Rate Foreclosure Rate december 2012 2.21% 2.13% year ago 1.82% 3.46% percent point change 21.6% -38.6% note: The 90+ Day delinquecy rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans that are 90plus days delinquent. The foreclosure rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans currently in foreclosure. State rank is based on the December 2012 foreclosure rate. All figures are rounded to the nearest decimal. The unemployment rate reflects preliminary December 2012 figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. All other data courtesy of Lender Processing Services. Colorado Re/Max Alliance & The Haas Team ZAC BROWN 303-456-7790 Direct || 303-619-4803 Cell www.zacbrownrealestate.com www.thehaasteam.com zaclbrown@aol.com STAT INSIGHT 10.8% The annual growth Denver saw in residential prices from Q4 2011 to Q4 2012. Source: FNC RE/MAX Finishes Year Strong, Co-Founder Offers Predictions for 2013 The housing market finished 2012 strong with year-over-year gains in home sales and prices, according to the December National Housing Report from Denver-based RE/MAX. The report, which covers 52 metro markets, shows a broad recovery all across the country, with both sales and prices rising almost every month in 2012. While home sales in December dropped 4.9 percent month-over-month (following the standard holiday pattern), RE/MAX���s data shows a 3.8 percent year-over-year increase. This marks the 18th straight month in which sales improved on a yearly basis. Of the 52 markets tracked for the report, 34 posted higher sales than in December 2011, and 16 of those markets saw doubledigit gains. Prices gave an even stronger performance as 2012 came to a close. According to RE/MAX, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, the median price for homes sold in December was $166,250, 1.8 percent up from November and 7.6 percent up from December 2011. December was the 11th consecutive month to see year-over-year price improvement. Forty-eight of the 52 tracked markets experienced yearly price gains, and 21 posted double-digit increases, according to the report. RE/MAX attributes 2012���s housing turnaround to a combination of record low interest rates, affordable prices, and a shrinking inventory, which together ���created opportunities that many consumers could not resist.��� The biggest issue remaining from 2012 is inventory, which in December saw its 30th straight monthly decline. RE/MAX���s report shows the total number of homes for sale in December was down 11.8 percent from November and 29.1 percent from December 2011. While the shrinking inventory has likely played a role in the ongoing trend of price increases, it has also created difficulties for potential buyers. RE/MAX recorded a 5.7 month supply in December, meaning it would take 5.7 months for all homes on the VISIT US ONLINE @ DSNEWS.COM market to sell at the current monthly sales volume (a balanced supply between buyers and sellers is six months). However, many markets���particularly those in the hardesthit states���are still reporting months supply levels in the one-, two-, and three-month range. Low supply also impacted RE/MAX���s measure of days on market for homes sold, which slipped to 84 in December. That figure is two days more than November���s average of 82, but a significant 12 days lower than 98 in December 2011. According to RE/MAX, the average measure for days on market throughout 2012 was 89. Going forward, RE/MAX co-founder and chairman Dave Liniger says he expects the national housing market���s rebound in 2012 not only to continue into 2013, but he also thinks the year could be the best the industry has seen in a very long time. And, as the market heals, it���s not just one factor restoring the industry, but several that are playing a role. ���Although interest rates have been at historic lows, they have not been the driving force behind this recovery,��� Liniger said. ���There���s no single factor driving this market; it���s been a combination of low prices, low inventory, improving consumer confidence, and a huge pent-up demand. That was true throughout 2012 and will continue to be true in 2013.��� Liniger, however, warned that the recovery will be ���slow and steady,��� adding ���it is not completely on solid ground just yet.��� Liniger noted concerns regarding government regulations, strict lending standards, and the overall economy. ���But if housing can stay on the road to recovery, it���s possible that it can pull the rest of the economy along with it,��� he concluded. Liniger also offered his top 10 predictions for the year in a video presentation. According to the RE/MAX research team, Liniger���s predictions for 2012 were 85 percent accurate. Liniger���s Top-10 Predictions for 2013: 1. With more pent-up demand, more homebuyers and sellers are expected to enter the market. 2. Home sales will rise by 6-7 percent, and prices will rise by 3-4 percent. 3. The inventory of homes for sale will hit a bottom. More homes will be on the market from homeowners whose equity has increased and from lenders who are foreclosing more efficiently. 4. Higher priced homes will begin to sell. 83