Built on Jenga Blocks, Home Prices Look Shaky

The Homebuyers’ Tax Credit, in many ways, has done exactly what it was suppose to do – stimulate the economy. Notice I didn’t say increase home ownership. The tax credit was never really about buyers. It was about keeping home values stable so the housing sector would not have another wave of foreclosures that would cause a further deterioration of the economy.

The administration realized early on that the number one cause of foreclosures was an increase in ‘negative equity’. Negative equity occurs when the value of a home is less than the mortgage balances on that home. Other terms for this situation are being ‘underwater’ or ‘upside down’ on your mortgage.

Click Here to Read More