Crew Capital Management Thoughts on Investment

Welcome to the Crew Capital Management Thoughts on Investment blog. At Crew Capital, investment education is key to how we work with our clients. We hope our conversation and analysis entice you to think further on your investment strategies and planning. For further discussion, please contact us at rjung@crewcapital.com

Thank you!
Robert F. Jung, CFA CPA*

*CPA inactve

Friday, April 30, 2010

U.S. Home Prices: Signs of a Double Dip?

The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Index rose 0.6 y/y on a seasonally adjusted (s.a.) basis in February 2010, the first y/y gain since December 2006. However, on a monthly basis, home prices in the 20 metro areas fell 0.1% between January and February 2010, after eight consecutive months of monthly gains. On a seasonally unadjusted basis, the 20-city composite index fell for the fifth consecutive month, down 0.8%, following a 0.4% decline in January 2010. Only one of the 20 cities showed a monthly gain in prices in February 2010, compared to a peak of eighteen cities in July 2009, when the first time home buyer tax credit was in full effect. Some analysts assert that the recent stabilization will pave the way to a gradual recovery in home prices in 2010. Others argue that the stabilization is temporary and that further downward correction of home prices is likely once government support to the housing sector is withdrawn, beginning with the phasing out of MBS purchases by Q1 2010 and the expiration of the home buyer tax credit in April 2010. The marginal success of mortgage modification programs and the expiration of foreclosure moratorium also pose the risk of a wave of distressed homes entering the market and pressuring home prices in 2010.

RGE Analysis by Prajakta Bhide and Christian Menegatti: Recent housing data reports are consistent with our predictions for a double dip in home prices. Prices were expected to stabilize temporarily but fall as government support is phased out. Positive data in the run-up to the expiration of the extended home buyer tax credit may push home prices higher over the coming months, but fundamentals indicate that a sustainable pick-up is unlikely. Additionally, vacancies, foreclosure rates and mortgage rates deserve careful attention, as they are expected to exert further downward pressure on struggling prices.

Source: www.roubini.com, Roubini Global Monitor

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