By Yascha Noonberg, March 7, 2019
By Yascha Noonberg, March 7, 2019
“Our forecast for the CoreLogic Home Price Index predicts there will be a a 4.5 percent increase in our national index from December 2018 to the end of 2019,” said Dr. Frank Nothaft, chief economist for CoreLogic, in a prepared statement. “If all homes experience this gain, this would lift about 350,000 homeowners from being underwater and restore positive equity.”
What’s more, the average homeowner has gained $9,700 in equity over the past year. In Nevada and Hawaii, this number was as high as $29,400 and $26,900, respectively. CoreLogic predicts the number of homes with negative equity will even out by the end 0f 2019 given that home values across the country continue to grow, albeit at a slower pace than a year earlier.
“As home prices rise, significantly more people are choosing to remodel, repair or upgrade their existing homes,” said Frank Martell, president and CEO of CoreLogic, in a prepared statement. “With rates still ultra-low by historical standards, home-equity loans provide a low-cost method to finance home-improvement spending. These expenditures are expected to rise 5 percent in 2019.”