Is your property underwater?
Is your property underwater?
Lots of people are of the opinion that the real estate market is coming out of the crisis. But experts have opined that a large number of homeowners may find themselves in worse situation within the next two years.
It’s very important to know if your home is underwater or not. Check out 4 important signs to know whether or not your property has lost value.
- Rising unemployment:
Homes have lost value is those cities where the unemployment rates have been higher. It has been found that in California, properties have lost around 40% home values (according to Zillow). According to the labor department, California also has the worst unemployment rate – 27.5%. People who live in areas which have high unemployment rates can find their home values to drop further.
- Homes lingering on the market:
If a house in your area is not selling for a long time and the “For Sale” sign lingers for three or more months, then there are chances that buyer and seller are not agreeing on the same price of the property. Thus, the seller will have to lower the price of the property in order to sell it off. If this trend continues, the other properties in your area would also lose value.
- Foreclosures in your neighborhood:
Your property can end up losing value if you live in a neighborhood where foreclosures have become quite common. It is said that when one property in your neighborhood goes into foreclosure, your property’s value will drop by 1%. But again, if 2 properties in your neighborhood goes into foreclosure, then your home’s value may drop by more than 2%.
- Poor condition of homes in your neighborhood:
Take care of your home or else it may lose value. If your neighbors are not taking care of their property, it may affect the value of your property. Broken porches or dented siding can inevitably lead to a lower value of your home. If your neighbors are not investing in their property to keep it in a good shape, be ready to lose your property’s value.
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:40 am
It’s really important to keep a tab whether or not one’s property is losing value. Most of the borrowers are facing issues in paying off the mortgage dues just because they have lost their jobs and their property is underwater. I never knew that poor condition of my neighbor’s property would affect my property’s value. Thanks for sharing such an important info.
September 30th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I would suggest to everyone to do some research on neighborhood and location before buying a house. These are really good points here.