Americans’ Outlook on Housing Continues to Inch Forward Despite Dip in Overall Economic Confidence

Washington, D.C.—Consumer sentiment regarding the housing market continues its modestly positive trend, according to results from Fannie Mae’s August 2012 National Housing Survey. Supported by the expectation that home prices will rise in the next year and more saying it is a good time to sell, Americans have maintained a cautious but improving view of the housing market and homeownership. However, their stalling household financial expectations and declining economic optimism will likely mean the rate at which the housing market recovers will remain tempered.

Survey respondents expect home prices to increase 1.6 percent in the next year, on average, down slightly from the high of 2.0 percent seen in the June results. The number of respondents who say home prices will decline totaled 11 percent, the lowest level since the survey began in June 2010. Eighteen percent say now is a good time to sell, marking the highest level since the survey’s inception. Regarding to mortgage rates, 40 percent of those surveyed expect a rise in the next 12 months, an increase of 4 percentage points over July.

Meanwhile, the survey showed increasing consumer pessimism about the direction of the overall economy. The number of respondents who believe the economy is headed in the wrong direction ticked up 2 percentage points to 60 percent, the third consecutive rise to the highest reading since January. Those who expect their financial situation to worsen dipped to 13 percent while those expecting their situation to remain the same increased modestly to 41 percent.