Is U.S. Expecting Foreclosure Crisis?

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Amanda Byford
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Even though the number of borrowers in COVID mortgage bailout programs are falling, those still in trouble, are not underwater as thought.

Thanks to the soaring home prices, leading to high levels of home equity, has struggling borrowers are in a far better position.

According to a new report from Black Knight, a mortgage data and analytics firm, the number of active mortgage forbearance plans fell by more than 5% compared to last week.

Up to 18 months of forbearance from entry into the programs was allowed for borrowers, so September is expected to see expirations of 400,000 as maximum borrowers enrolled in March and April 2020.

There still are around 1.618 million borrowers in forbearance programs, with an unpaid balance of $313 billion. Close to 98% of those borrowers now have a minimum of 10% equity in their homes. 

With the current housing market status, the majority could easily sell pay off their loan, and pocket some profit.

  In the second quarter of 2021, the tappable equity rose by $1 trillion. The growing home prices have pushed the home equity up from a little over $6 trillion to over $9 trillion. 

CoreLogic report in July showed across the country home prices were up 18% from July 2020. Some states saw bigger gains at 33%.

According to Attom, a foreclosure and data company even when the prices and equity are both high, foreclosure starts rose 27% in August, compared to July and up 60% from August last year. 

Even before the pandemic in August 2019 the foreclosure starts were more than three times higher.

Rick Sharga, executive vice president at RealtyTrac, said that the foreclosure activity increased when the government’s foreclosure moratorium expired, but it will not lead to a flood of distressed properties in the market said Attom company that lists foreclosed properties for sale.

Over the next quarter, he expects the foreclosure activities to increase because the loans that were in default even before the pandemic will reenter the foreclosure pipeline. He believes that foreclosures will remain below normal levels.

Reference Source: CNBC

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