Home values in the United States were essentially unchanged in November, decreasing a marginal 0.1 percent from October, according to this month's Zillow Real Estate Market Reports. Annually, the Zillow Home Value Index fell 4.6 percent from November 2010 to $147,800 and has returned to levels last seen in late 2003. Regionally, home values appreciated or remained flat from October to November in 60 percent of the 165 housing markets covered by Zillow, compared to 24 percent last year. Major metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) that experienced flat or increasing home values include Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; San Francisco and Detroit. On an annual basis, the median home value is down for nearly all (90 percent) of the 165 MSAs covered by Zillow, although the rate of annualized depreciation has slowed significantly in the majority of the markets.
Foreclosure liquidation rates have fallen steadily since the robo-signing controversy in late 2010, as banks slowed down their processing of foreclosures. In November, 8.1 out of every 10,000 U.S. homes were foreclosed upon. Foreclosure liquidations peaked in October 2010 at 11 out of every 10,000 homes and could rise again pending the attorneys general settlement which will give banks more certainty over the foreclosure process, therefore opening the backlog of foreclosures.
"Overall, we are seeing encouraging signs in housing data such as sequential months of slowing depreciation rates, stabilizing markets and organic improvement in value trends, largely in the absence of government policy intervention," said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries. "However, we're not out of the woods yet. Supply and demand are still not in balance in many markets and we do expect higher foreclosure liquidation rates near-term, which will put additional downward pressure on home values."
"Even with the anticipated increase in foreclosures, look for 2012 to be a transitional year in which home values fall modestly followed by a prolonged period of flat home values. We're still three to five years away from 'normal' housing market conditions," said Dr. Humphries.
