After rising since the beginning of the year, consumers’ outlook for home price increases plateaued in August – which has been trending upward- has hit a plateau, likely due to concerns regarding the potential tapering of the Federal Reserve’s asset purchases, according to Fannie Mae’s August 2013 National Housing Survey.

“The spike in mortgage rates associated with the possibility that the Fed will begin to wind down its asset purchase program later this month has dampened the improving trend in consumer sentiment regarding housing witnessed in our survey since the start of this year,” said Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae. “The pause in positive momentum is consistent with slowing trends in home purchase contract signings and mortgage applications. Interest rate volatility will likely remain elevated, even after we have more clarity on the pace of the Fed’s tapering, due to concerns over the upcoming budget and debt ceiling debates as well as the crisis in Syria.”

Survey data show that consumers expect home prices to continue to grow on average during the next 12 months, but at a slightly reduced pace of 3.4 percent. Additionally, the share who say it is a good time to buy a home has stayed relatively flat during the past year while those who say it is a good time to sell a home has lost momentum recently.

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

Homeownership and Renting

• At 3.4 percent, the average 12-month home price change expectation decreased 0.5 percent from last month’s high.
• The share of people who say home prices will go up in the next 12 months rose 2 percentage points to 55 percent, while those who say home prices will go down increased slightly from July’s survey low to 7 percent.
• The share of respondents who say mortgage rates will go up in the next 12 months decreased 2 percentage points from last month’s survey high to 60 percent.
• The share who say it is a good time to buy a house decreased 3 percentage points to 71 percent, and those who say it is a good time to sell a house fell 4 percentage points to 36 percent.
• The average 12-month rental price change expectation fell to 4.1 percent, a slight decrease from last month.
• Fifty-three percent of those surveyed say home rental prices will go up in the next 12 months, a slight decrease from July.
• Forty-six percent of respondents think it would be easy for them to get a home mortgage today, a slight increase from last month.
• The share of respondents who said they would buy if they were going to move increased slightly to 65 percent.

The Economy and Household Finances

• At 37 percent, the share of respondents who say the economy is on the right track decreased 3 percentage points from July.

 

 

http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2013/09/