Housing Market Slowdown Marks One-Year Anniversary

CoreLogic

MARCH MARKS THE 12TH CONSECUTIVE MONTH OF COOLING FOR U.S. HOUSING MARKET

According to the latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, home prices in the United States grew by 3.7% in March. This is the 12th consecutive month of slowing home-price growth, which is now at its lowest level of growth since September 2012.

Price Growth Slows for 12th Straight Month

Average home prices for the top 10 metropolitan areas increased 2.3%, down from the previous month’s 2.5% increase. The top 20 metropolitan areas also posted a gain of 2.7% year over year, down from 3% in February. Furthermore, 18 of the top 20 metropolitan areas reported lower price increases compared to the previous month, with only Tampa showing a slight pickup in price growth.

10 and 20 City Growth Rate Lowest Since 2012

Las Vegas (8.2%), Phoenix (6.1%) and Tampa (5.3%) accounted for the highest year-over-year price increases, while metros with the largest slowdown from the previous year continue to be along the Pacific: Seattle (11.4% point drop), San Francisco (9.9% point drop) and Los Angeles (6.7% point drop).

Pacific Markets Lagging US Home Price Growth

While the continued cooling of the U.S. housing market has now broadened outside of the sharply cooling Pacific markets, we do expect a more favorable rate environment to emerge over the next few months. This is likely due to political and trade uncertainties pushing demand for the 10-year treasury up and thus mortgage rates down. Presumably, this should help to elongate the spring home buying season into the summer, as younger homebuyers seek to take advantage of these favorable rates. We also expect the slowdown to moderate or even reverse course in the second half of the year. The change in course could be due to an economy that continues to defy expectations and a demographic structure that supports strong household growth.

Once Hot Pacific Markets Now Cold