The real estate market greatly exploded over the last five years with the biggest shift ha ening in
Two of the primary drivers of this real estate market mania have been peoples belief that they must own real estate coupled with a second factor of low interest rate mortgages.
The first driver is peoples fervent belief that they must buy real estate, but this herd mentality is begi ing to change. eculators buy homes as investments and these investors have been a large source of the demand for real estate in the past few years. Now, not only have eculators sto ed buying but they are also selling the properties they own. As a result, inventory of homes for sale are at astronomical levels.
The second driver of the real estate market has been low interest rate mortgages. Interest rates bottomed out in June of 2003 and have been rising ever since. As a result interest rates are su tantially higher than they were only 12 months ago and they only have one way to go up. Higher interest rates are needed to help slow down inflation. Inflation has recently caused co umers to really begin feeling a pinch in their wallets.
In order to cope with higher interest rates and high real estate prices, banks have thrust adjustable rate mortgages onto the American public. Since March 2004, there has been a 59% increase in one-year adjustable rate mortgages. These mortgages start out with a low interest rate, but quickly rise after the one-year introductory period is over. Moodys has reported that an astounding $2 trillion of adjustable mortgages will reset between 2006 and 2007 and this will really cause foreclosures to rise like never before.
Rise they have as mortgage foreclosures nationwide increased 38% as reported by RealtyTrac Inc. Mortgage defaults will only worsen with higher interest rates and more adjustable mortgage rate resets. What bank is infamous for ecializing in adjustable mortgage loa ? The a wer is Golden West Financial bank.
Adjustable mortgages will be the primary cause of the coming mortgage meltdown and ground zero for this will be overpriced areas such as California, Florida, and New York. Golden West Financial concentrated their adjustable mortgages in California, one of the most overpriced real estate areas in the country. Wachovia was so a orbed by the real estate bu le it paid the highest price ever per share for Golden West.
So what ha e when many of Golden Wests clients foreclose on their properties because they ca ot afford a 50% jump in monthly mortgage payments? Wachovia will feel the pain as they are forced to sell these mortgages to investors for pe ies on the dollar. Do not make the same mistake; learn all about the markets and economy. It is important to know there is still time to prepare yourself for the real estate bu le bursting and the coming rece ion. Go to www.MyRealEstateBu le.com for more information.