Personal bankruptcies tend to rise during periods of economic distress due to job loss and loss or reduction of income. Not surprisingly, this pattern was evident during this most recent economic downturn when bankruptcies rose nationally to a peak … [Read more...]

Strong homes sales in 2012 helped to diminish the number of borrowers rolling into distressed situations. The increase in sales eroded inventories resulting in steady price growth. As a result, more people were able to refinance into affordable … [Read more...]

Though sluggish, employment grew 1.7% between 2011 and 2012, or by 2.235 million new jobs. Job creation helped drive down the national unemployment rate from 8.9% to 8.1%. But improving conditions bring job seekers back to the job market, creating … [Read more...]

Housing construction is slowly ramping up. Housing starts and permitting have been at their strongest levels in years, with many markets exhibiting double-digit increases between 2011 and 2012. Construction is an important source of job creation, but … [Read more...]

2012 began with atypically strong home sales, which carried through the entire year.  As a result, inventories declined and price appreciation took off. Over the 4-quarter period ending in December, 131 markets or 88% of those monitored by NAR … [Read more...]