Monthly principal and interest payments on mortgages are skyrocketing, new and existing home sales are falling, and affordability has dropped to 2005 levels, but according to Bloomberg, that doesn’t mean that today’s housing slump is reflective of the 2008 bust. Not only is financing far less risky than it was leading up to the subprime mortgage collapse, but this time around, more homeowners are also equity rich.
In almost half of all mortgaged properties in the second quarter, owners had at least 50% in home equity, and that Q2 gain followed nine straight quarterly increases. Without a market for subprime mortgages or related bonds and with more homeowners backed by equity wealth, a housing downturn is more likely to rebalance an off-kilter market, not crash it.
The first is that housing is financed much differently than in the years leading up to the subprime mortgage collapse and resultant financial crisis. You had no money down mortgages, “liar” loans, NINJA loans, interest only mortgages, negative amortization mortgages and numerous financial innovations on top of those – all of which were facilitated by poor underwriting standards.
Advertisement
Related Stories
Labor + Trade Relations
Who's Earning What in Construction
Workers in construction management roles may earn a higher median wage, but on average, lower-paid occupations have experienced somewhat faster wage growth
Build to Rent
Build-to-Rent Is Booming, Particularly in These Metros
A recent report finds that the Phoenix metro leads with more than 4,000 build-to-rent units completed in 2023, and Texas is the leading state for build-to-rent development
Sustainability
Which Green Building Practices Are Home Builders Using Most?
A recent report reveals which green-building practices are most popular among single-family home builders and remodelers