Fannie Mae has released the results of its March National Housing Survey. The survey, compiled via live telephone interview of over 1,000 Americans, shows respondents’ attitudes toward owning and renting a home, home and rental price changes, homeownership distress, the economy, household finances and overall consumer confidence.
The results are surprising: Even though recent volatility in the housing market has softened the ongoing recovery, the majority of the Fannie Mae National Housing Survey indicators on consumer attitudes have continued to move in a positive direction during the past year. The overall survey attitude may portend a pickup in home buying and selling this spring.
"The housing recovery continues to proceed in fits and starts. Rising mortgage rates and a lack of supply have dampened housing market momentum," said Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae. "However, we see several positive signs going into this year's spring home buying season compared with last year. For example, consumers are less pessimistic about their personal finances and more optimistic about the current selling environment and their ability to get a mortgage. Still, those who are pessimistic about buying or selling a home today tend to point to economic conditions as the primary issue, and most consumers continue to say the economy is on the wrong track. Looking forward, we expect to see a pickup in economic growth later in the year, and this may boost the confidence of prospective buyers and sellers."
According to Fannie Mae’s March results, the share of survey respondents who say it is a good time to sell a home climbed to 38 percent last month, compared to 26 percent at the same time last year. In addition, those who believe it would be easy to get a mortgage today increased to 52 percent (compared to 47 a year ago), tying the all-time survey high.
Americans' attitudes regarding their personal finances have improved along with their faith in the housing market — those who expect their financial situation to worsen during the next 12 months decreased to 12 percent, a significant drop from the 21 percent seen at the same time last year. The share who said their personal financial situation improved during the past year reached an all-time survey high of 40 percent.
Homeownership and renting highlights from the survey include:
- The average 12-month home price change expectation decreased from the previous month, to 2.7 percent.
- The share of respondents who said home prices will go up in the next 12 months decreased slightly to 48 percent, while the share who said home prices will go down decreased to 5 percent, an all-time survey low.
- The share of respondents who said mortgage rates will go up in the next 12 months decreased to 54 percent, and those who said they will go down fell to 3 percent, tying the all-time survey low.
- Those who said it is a good time to buy a house increased slightly from last month to 69 percent, and those who said it is a good time to sell a house increased 4 percentage points from the previous month to 38 percent.
- The average 12-month rental price change expectation decreased slightly from the previous month to 4.2 percent.
- Fifty-two percent of those surveyed said home rental prices will go up in the next 12 months, a slight increase from the previous month.
- Fifty-two percent of respondents thought it would be easy for them to get a home mortgage today, tying the all-time survey high first reached in January.
- The share who said they would buy if they were going to move increased 2 percentage points to 68 percent.
Economic and financial highlights from the survey include:
- The share of respondents who said the economy is on the right track continued on a downward trend, decreasing 2 percentage points from the previous month to 33 percent.
- The percentage of respondents who expect their personal financial situation to stay the same over the next 12 months increased 4 percentage points to 45 percent, tying a survey all-time high.
- The share of respondents who said their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago decreased 3 percentage points, to 21 percent.
- The share of respondents who said their household expenses are significantly lower than they were 12 months ago fell one percentage point to 8 percent, tying the all-time survey low.