Even though home prices rose more than 10 percent last year and lifted 1.4 million house poor homeowners above water, consumers have suddenly become concerned nervous about the value of their homes, according to a national opinion survey.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey last week found that homeowner confidence in the value of their homes dropped suddenly over the holidays. According to the latest survey of 670 adult homeowners conducted on January 16-17 some 53% of owners feel the value of their home is more than what they owe.
That’s down from 62% a month ago, which was the highest level of owner confidence since Rasmussen Reports began regular tracking on this question in April 2009. It’s also down from 58% reported in November and October.
Not only have positive attitudes decreased, negatives have risen. Thirty-two percent (32%) now say their home is not worth more than the amount they owe, up from 24% in December. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure.
Home prices flattened in the fall, as they normally do, but in reports prices ended up 10 percent or more higher than they were at this time last year. Rising prices have restored equity to homes nationwide. For example, last week CoreLogic reported that nearly half the nation’s states plus the District of Columbia have reached their price peaks from the housing boom or are within 10 percent of doing so, today