Sales of Summer Homes Hit New Lows
November 21, 2011 By Elliot S. Schlissel
The depressed real estate market in the United States reached a new low in July, 2011. Home sales fell 3.5% during that month. This brought home sales to the lowest point in the last 13 years. Home prices keep falling. This makes it harder and harder for individuals to sell their homes. The reduction in home values has been a driving force in the economic problems in the United States. Consumers who feel the value of their home is going down are disinclined to spend money on everyday purchases. There is a negative effect on the economy in the United States when consumers believe their homes are losing value.
Difficulties In Purchasing New Homes
Banks now require larger down payments before a new homeowner can purchase a home. In addition, lending rules have become very stringent. New home buyers are also concerned that the home they purchase will be worth less money in the future. The motto of many perspective home buyers is: why buy now if things will only get less expensive in the future? Instead, they sit and wait and watch the real estate market continue to decline. The wait and see approach by new home purchasers is causing the inventory of homes on the market to increase. As the inventory of new homes for sale on the real estate market increases, it creates a downward pressure on the sales price of these homes.
Appraisals Killing Home Sales
When a purchaser decides to buy a home, they must apply to the bank for a mortgage. The bank thereafter sends their appraiser out to appraise the home. In recent months, these appraisals are coming back with information indicating the homes are worth less than the prospective purchaser is in contract to pay for it. This often kills the real estate deal.
Home Prices Falling by More Than 5% in 2011
Economists have estimated that home prices will decline between now and the end of the year by an additional 5%. This is unfortunate. The ownership of a single family home was the American dream. The dream seems to be turning into a nightmare!
Call us for a free consultation, we will discuss whether filing bankruptcy may be in your interest and all other foreclosure related options. Our phones are monitored 24/7. Call us at 1-800-344-6431, 516-561-6645 or 718-350-2802.
New York Foreclosure Defense Lawyers
The New York City and Long Island foreclosure defense lawyers at the Law Offices of Schlissel DeCorpo can help you if you have foreclosure problem. Our foreclosure defense lawyers litigate defective mortgages, defective foreclosure lawsuits, predatory lending and all other types of real estate related matters. We can explain the federal laws on foreclosure and how they affect you. We attend foreclosure court conferences for our clients.
In the appropriate situation, we will discuss foreclosure related bankruptcy issues, such as filing Chapter 7 and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy with you. In bankruptcy situations, there is an automatic stay that goes into effect, ordered by the court, that stops foreclosure from moving forward. In some bankruptcy situations, we can eliminate second mortgages. At the end of the bankruptcy, we can assist you in re- establishing your credit. Feel free to set up free consultation with us. We will discuss your foreclosure options with you.