S&P Case-Shiller Housing Price Index - October 26, 2010 Release

S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices - Prices stable today and headed lower tomorrow was the story of the last housing report.  Today, as expected by most analysts, the report points to housing prices heading lower again.

"A disappointing report. Home prices broadly declined in August. Seventeen of the 20 cities and both Composites saw a weakening in year-over-year figures, as compared to July, indicating that the housing market continues to bounce along the recent lows," says David M. Blitzer, Chairman of the Index Committee at Standard & Poor's. Over the last four months both the 10- and 20-City Composites show slowing growth, after sustaining consistent gains since their April 2009 troughs.

"The month-over-month growth rates tell the same story. Fifteen of the 20 MSAs and the two Composites saw a decline in the month of August as compared to July levels. The 10- and 20-City Composites fell 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. Indeed, the housing market appears to have stabilized at new lows. At this time, it does not seem that any of the markets are hanging on to the temporary momentum caused by the homebuyers' tax credits."

(S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices - 

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In consideration of current economic conditions and recent housing data that continues to point towards increasing inventory levels in many locales, the downward pricing trend highlighted in this report should continue to be reflected in the next S&P / Case-Shiller release.

Actual S&P/Case-Shiller Housing Price Index PDF report: "Home Prices Increases Slow Down in August According to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices".

More to come ...

CoreLogic: Home Price Index for August 2010

According to the CoreLogic Home Price Index released reflecting August 2010 data, home prices declined 1.5% year over year nationally and values appear to be be trending lower:

"Price declines are geographically expanding as 78 out of the largest 100 metropolitan areas are experiencing declines, up from 58 just one month ago” said Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic."

12 Month House Price Index Change: Single-family combined series

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12 Month House Price Index Change: Single-family combined excluding distressed series.

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From a national perspective, CoreLogic's report continues to paint a grim housing picture and the trending lower numbers point to more housing woes ahead.

Will the Real Owner Please Stand Up?

It's a three ring foreclosure circus. It would actually be funny if this really didn't impact and negatively affect real people.

When will these institutions every be held accountable for their criminal practices? What a mess!

The Mortgage Mess

It's definitely good politics to claim that you have to protect the private sector, lumping small business owners who truly compete in a free market with the uber / multinational corporations that successfully lobby our congressmen and women on a daily basis to write the laws that create the market they want.

Many good arguments / points made in this video regarding the banks, the mortgage mess, and the housing market, but minutes 6:00 - 7:00 is definitely a good listen.

As Barry Ritholtz noted towards the end of the video, "we have the best Senate money can buy!"

Disgusting, but quite clearly true if you remotely pay attention to how things really operate!