Money is Not Flowing Into Real Estate

The myopic focus of the headline perspective makes it nearly impossible to see the forest through the trees. This is the reason why I often recommend following the money rather than opinions from the media outlets. Following every little hiccup in the trend, such as double or triple dips, can fool the mind into believing that something other than a secular bear market in housing has been unfolding since 2005.

U.S. Median Home Price (MHP) And MHP to Gold Ratio


Headline: Home prices heading for triple-dip

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The besieged housing market has even further to fall before home prices really hit rock bottom.

According to Fiserv (FISV), a financial analytics company, home values are expected to fall another 3.6% by next June, pushing them to a new low of 35% below the peak reached in early 2006 and marking a triple dip in prices.

Several factors will be working against the housing market in the upcoming months, including an increase in foreclosure activity and sustained high unemployment, explained David Stiff, Fiserv's chief economist.

Should home values meet Fiserv's expectations, it would make it the third (and lowest) trough for home prices since the housing bubble burst.

The first post-bubble bottom was hit in 2009, when prices fell to 31% below peak. The First-Time Homebuyer Credit helped perk prices up by mid-2010, but by the time the credit expired, prices fell again.

Source: money.cnn.com