When factoring in second mortgage debt, seller closing costs, and sales commission, more than 50% of owners with a mortgage are unable to sell their homes and pay off their debts.
I tried to grow a mermaids tale, 'caus here's a lot of danger. The grey big sharks with long sharp teeth, would love to catch a stranger.
Under the water, under the water, uo, you left me drowning. Under the water, under the water, ou, you left me drowning.
Brother Brown -- Under the Water
To be underwater with a cost of ownership exceeding a comparable rental is to be trapped in a debtor's prison. Loan owners in these circumstances have few good options.
If they move and rent the house, they lose money each month until rents rise enough to allow them to break even. In a weak economy with stagnant wage growth, it may be a very long time before these owners get back to even on a payment basis.
If they sell, it will be a short sale. They will endure a decline in their credit score, and they may have to arrange repayment with a lender as a condition of the sale.
If they can't negotiate a short sale, and they decide to move, they will have to walk away from the debt and endure the consequences of that decision. Their credit score will decline, and they may face lender collection efforts.
They can decide to stay and remain trapped in their debtor's prison.
None of the above options are particularly desirable. The worst part is, all of these problems could have been avoided. If prices are so high that a comparable rental doesn't cover the cost, then renting is a better choice than owning. Rental parity is a powerful price point. Above rental partly, owners face the situation described above. Below rental parity, and those problems go away.
Published: Tuesday, 8 Nov 2011 | 5:45 PM ET By: Diana Olick CNBC Real Estate Reporter
A new report on still-falling home prices today highlights the fact that the lower those prices go, the more American borrowers fall into an negative equity position; that is, they owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth.
Most analysts will tell you that negative equity is the number one problem in the housing market today, even worse than foreclosures, because it causes foreclosures, stymies consumer spending and traps potential home buyers and sellers in place.
The fact that negative equity shuts of the housing ATM and stymies consumer spending is a good thing. That kind of consumer spending is a Ponzi scheme, and to the degree an economy depends on Ponzi borrowing is the degree to which the ensuring recession will cause pain. Ponzi borrowing always leads to a fall. Always.
Negative equity rose to 28.6 percent of single-family homes with mortgages in the third quarter of this year, according to Zillow. That's up from 26.8 percent in the second quarter. In real terms, that's 14.6 million borrowers.
Zillow's numbers are often quoted, but they are also all wrong. Zillow only looks at the Zillow Zestimate relative to the originally reported first mortgage amount. Their methodology misses all second mortgages and subsequent refinances of the first mortgage. Since the mortgages it misses are the real problem, the actual number of underwater homes is much, much higher. Plus, their methodology does not consider the hefty transaction costs required to sell a house.
Many of those borrowers are already behind on their mortgage payments, and some are likely already in the foreclosure process. The rest of them are in danger of defaulting, not because they can't pay their mortgages, but because they either won't want to (seeing as they will never see any real appreciation in their investment) or because any change in their economic or personal situation might force them into default (change of job, divorce).
In other words, negative equity provides significant incentive to strategically default. Most underwater borrowers also face payments in excess of comparable rents, so they are prime candidates to walk away. It's in their best interest to do so.
While 14.6 million might seem like a lot, it's not the real number when you consider negative equity in housing's recovery. That's because it doesn't factor in "effective" negative equity, which is borrowers who have so little equity in their homes that they cannot afford to move.
Consider the following from mortgage analyst Mark Hanson:
On US totals, if you figure average house prices use conforming loan balances, then a repeat buyer has to have roughly 10 percent down to buy in addition to the 6 percent Realtor fee to sell. Thus, the effective negative equity target would be 85%. You also have to factor in secondary financing, which most measures leave out.
Based on that, over 50 percent of all mortgaged households in the US are effectively underwater — unable to sell for enough to pay a Realtor and put a down payment on a new purchase without coming out of pocket. Because repeat buyers have always carried the market as the foundation, this is why demand has not come back. It's as if half the potential buyers in America died over a two-year period of time
It's as simple as buying and selling. Negative and effective negative equity are causing stagnation, which may in the end be far more detrimental than foreclosures. The argument to solve this problem is principal forgiveness, and it is gaining traction politically and somewhat less in the banking sector.
LOL! Principal forgiveness is not gaining traction in the banking sector? Perhaps because that's otherwise known as giving away money. Lenders make a living lending money which is to be repaid, not by giving away money they will never see again.
And of course its popular in political circles. Most politicians will pander to whatever large group whose votes are for sale. Loan owners are a very large group, and giving them free money would almost certainly buy a few votes.
Principal forgiveness, or lowering the balance of a large chunk of the nation's mortgages, would be costly at best but could be catastrophic at worst. "Those thinking principal reductions are a panacea have never originated a loan, done the street level research, and do not really know the borrowers behind their data," argues Hanson. "More than likely it would create a far greater number of new strategic defaulters than the number it would legitimately save from Foreclosure."
Lenders will lose money on their portfolios whether through principal reduction or through foreclosure. They will lose less if they go through foreclosure because fewer loans will go bad. If they forgive principal, they will need to forgive everyone in their entire portfolio. How could they selectively forgive principal and achieve fairness to all borrowers? Do we forgive principal for HELOC abusers? They really need it.
What message does principal forgiveness send to those who were foolishly prudent? Think about it: if you were prudent and paid down your mortgage, you will probably not see much if any principal reduction; however, if you were a wildly irresponsible HELOC abuser, you will see significant principal reduction which will merely enable more HELOC abuse later. Principal reductions will serve as a major incentive for reckless borrowing. Everyone knows if enough people take the money and behave stupidly that everyone will get bailed out.
Foreclosure balances the equation. There must be some consequences to borrowers for their behavior, not because it is immoral, but because what you don't punish, you encourage. We can't afford to privatize gains and collectivize losses or we will go broke as a country. We are not a banana republic, but principal reduction without consequence is certainly a path that leads us there.
Nothing has changed. The results of widespread principal forgiveness is easily predictable. The only question is whether or not politicians in their desire to pander for votes will do the wrong thing. Let's hope not.
Chick Fil A Inc. eats the loss
Today's featured property appears to be part of a corporate benefit package. The original buyer paid $575,000 on 7/27/2007. On 12/1/2010, Chick Fil A Inc. buys the property from him for $575,000. Why would they do that unless they were contractually obligated to do so?
Chick Fil A Inc. is hoping to cut its losses. With nearly a year on the market, they apparently are not very motivated to sell the property. Prices are coming back, right?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This property is available for sale via the MLS. Please contact Shevy Akason, #01836707 949.769.1599 sales@idealhomebrokers.com
Beds: 2 Baths: 2 Sq. Ft.: 1145 $424/SF Property Type: Residential, Condominium Style: Two Level, Other View: Mountain Year Built: 2004 Community: Quail Hill County: Orange MLS#: S640271 Source: CRMLS On Redfin: 345 days ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Turnkey detached two story home with dual master bedrooms and beautiful curb appeal. Great location with easy access to the 405 & 133 freeways, the Irvine Spectrum, hiking trails and the beach. STANDARD SALE--no need to wait for bank approval. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proprietary IHB commentary and analysis
Post Body House Purchase Price … $575,000 House Purchase Date .... 12/1/2010
Net Gain (Loss) .......... ($119,100) Percent Change .......... -20.7% Annual Appreciation … -16.9%
Cost of Home Ownership ------------------------------------------------- $485,000 .......... Asking Price $16,975 .......... 3.5% Down FHA Financing 4.06% ............... Mortgage Interest Rate $468,025 .......... 30-Year Mortgage $143,210 .......... Income Requirement
-$501 .......... Tax Savings (% of Interest and Property Tax) -$667 .......... Equity Hidden in Payment (Amortization) $24 .......... Lost Income to Down Payment (net of taxes) $81 .......... Maintenance and Replacement Reserves ============================================ $2,636 .......... Monthly Cost of Ownership
Cash Acquisition Demands ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $4,850 .......... Furnishing and Move In @1% $4,850 .......... Closing Costs @1% $4,680 .......... Interest Points $16,975 .......... Down Payment ============================================ $31,355 .......... Total Cash Costs $40,400 ............ Emergency Cash Reserves ============================================ $71,755 .......... Total Savings Needed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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