Home Equity Levels Rise in Q2 – NMP Skip to main content

Home Equity Levels Rise in Q2

Sep 20, 2018
Today’s average homebuyer earns more than 62.7 percent of all households, up from 59.8 percent in 2012, according to new data from Zillow

Homeowners with mortgages saw a 12.3 percent increase in their equity between the second quarters of 2017 and 2018, according to data from CoreLogic. For the average homeowner, this represented a gain of $16,200.
 
Perhaps not surprisingly, the pricey West Coast markets experienced the greatest equity gains. California homeowners pocketed an average of approximately $48,800 in home equity and Washington homeowners experienced an average increase of approximately $41,100 in home equity over the 12-month period analyzed by CoreLogic.
 
Also, the total number of mortgaged homes in negative equity decreased nine percent to 2.2 million homes, or 4.3 percent of all mortgaged properties, between the first and second quarters of this year. On an annualized measurement, the number of mortgaged properties in negative equity fell 20.1 percent from 2.8 million homes, or 5.4 percent of all mortgaged properties, in the second quarter. The national aggregate value of negative equity was approximately $279.8 billion at the end of the second quarter, down from $285.3 billion in the first quarter.
 
“Negative equity levels continue to drop across the US with the biggest declines in areas with strong price appreciation,” said Frank Martell, President and Chief Executive Officer of CoreLogic. “Further, the relatively low level of shadow inventory contributes to the chronic shortage of housing supply and price increases in many markets.”
Homeowners with mortgages saw a 12.3 percent increase in their equity between the second quarters of 2017 and 2018, according to data from CoreLogic

 
About the author
Published
Sep 20, 2018
Strong Jobs Report Threatens Mortgage Rate Rally

October hiring more than doubled expectations, pushing Treasury yields higher

Nov 06, 2026
Fed Holds Rates, But Pricing Pressures Persist

Rising Treasury yields and fresh inflation data complicate rate locks, borrower qualification, and lender margins as markets anticipate another hike in December

Oct 29, 2026
Zippy Adds Capital For Manufactured-Home Lending Push

The $20 million investment from Saluda Grade will support expansion beyond 27 states and new loan products across wholesale, retail, and community channels

Oct 16, 2026
Inflation Hits 3.7%, Putting Mortgage Rate Relief At Risk

September’s inflation pickup puts recent rate improvements at risk, potentially eroding affordability gains from lower home prices and seller concessions

Oct 14, 2026
PLACE Acquires Ardley, Expanding Push To Turn Existing Borrowers Into New Loans

The latest deal connects borrower retention technology with Maxwell's origination platform and PLACE's real estate network, creating new opportunities for lenders

Oct 09, 2026
Equifax, TransUnion Launch New Tools To Cut Credit Report Costs

Both bureaus introduce ways to purchase credit scores separately from reports, while Equifax reports growing VantageScore adoption and extends $1 pricing through 2028

Oct 09, 2026