Is the Housing Crisis at its apex?

The news cycle continues a downward cycle on housing. Homeowners can not open a newspaper, turn on the news, or browse online without immediately getting hit with the latest negative housing commentary.

On the front page today, US foreclosure filings surge 48 percent in May. The continuous stream of downbeat real estate news may be a sign that the housing market has finally hit the bottom. In the same way, that the endless stream of news on how to get rich speculating on real estate in 2005 marked the real estate market peak. Interestingly, the spin today is how to get wealthy buying real estate foreclosures.

There is continuing statistical evidence that indicates that housing has turned the corner. In many markets, the number of days on the market is falling, along with the amount of unsold inventory. Coupled with the rate of price decreases slowing as buyers and sellers come into alignment of the new expectations regarding the proper value for a house now that the speculative bubble has burst.

The mortgage situation is also easing, as banks have returned to traditional lending standards. Financial institutions now have an improved comfort level for underwriting and re-selling proper quality loans – the credit crunch is slowly moderating.

The summer of 2008 may mark the actual bottom of the real estate plunge on a national level; some markets will face further price correction. However the path out of the crisis across the country will still be lengthy and painful, extending well into 2009.