Where Housing Prices Have Crashed and Billions in Wealth Have Vanished (2024)

Business|Where Housing Prices Have Crashed and Billions in Wealth Have Vanished

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/19/business/new-zealand-housing-prices.html

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In New Zealand, high interest rates have sent property prices sliding nearly 18 percent since November 2021.

Where Housing Prices Have Crashed and Billions in Wealth Have Vanished (1)

Where Housing Prices Have Crashed and Billions in Wealth Have Vanished (2)

By Natasha Frost

Natasha Frost, who is based in Melbourne, Australia, reported from Auckland and Christchurch, New Zealand.

Michael Wilson was hopeful when he put his three-bedroom house up for sale: Over a dozen would-be buyers came to the initial showing.

But about a year later, the property is still for sale. Offer after offer fell through because the prospective buyers were unable to sell their homes.

Welcome to New Zealand, one of the world’s most troubled housing markets. Over the last 18 months, homeowners and investors have lost billions of dollars in wealth after prices that spiked during the Covid pandemic started plunging as mortgage rates also soared.

“If we listed it, say, two months before we originally did, it would have literally sold the next day,” Mr. Wilson said. He and his wife, Jade, might finally have found a buyer for their three-bedroom house in Te Awamutu, a pretty North Island town of 13,000 people. But if they are lucky they will be paid about 15 percent less than they originally sought.

The pandemic’s disruptions to jobs, wages and living conditions caused a yo-yo effect in housing markets in many countries, including Sweden, Britain, Canada and Australia. Few places have experienced as wild a swing as New Zealand, which last week slipped into a recession.

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Where Housing Prices Have Crashed and Billions in Wealth Have Vanished (2024)

FAQs

Where have housing prices crashed and billions in wealth have vanished? ›

Welcome to New Zealand, one of the world's most troubled housing markets. Over the last 18 months, homeowners and investors have lost billions of dollars in wealth after prices that spiked during the Covid pandemic started plunging as mortgage rates also soared.

Has the housing market ever crashed? ›

The most recent US Housing Market Crash took place between 2007 and 2009, with the most dramatic impacts of the crash occurring in 2008.

How did the housing market crash affect the economy? ›

The housing market collapse of 2008 had a devastating impact on the global economy. Millions of people lost their jobs, and many businesses went bankrupt. The US government had to intervene with a massive bailout of the financial system in order to prevent a depression.

How much did housing prices fall during the financial crisis what about the stock market? ›

U.S. housing prices fell nearly 30% on average and the U.S. stock market fell approximately 50% by early 2009, with stocks regaining their December 2007 level during September 2012. One estimate of lost output and income from the crisis comes to "at least 40% of 2007 gross domestic product".

How does wealth inequality affect housing? ›

The results of this study point to growing income inequality as a contributing factor in the growth of home- lessness in California after 1980: Inequality has increased the demand for and price of the lowest-quality housing, forcing out the lowest-income renters.

How much money was lost in the housing crisis? ›

A McKinsey Global Institute report estimates that the housing shortage is costing the California economy between 143 and 233 billion dollars per year, from lost construction activity (at least $85 billion annually), lower consumption of consumer goods because of high housing costs (at least $53 billion annually) and ...

Will there be a housing market crash in 2024? ›

No — experts do not think there is a housing market crash looming in 2024.

Will 2024 be a good time to buy a house? ›

With the current trend in the CA housing market, you'll find better deals on your dream home during Q2 2024. As per Fannie Mae, mortgage rates may drop more in Q2 of 2024 due to economic changes, inflation, and central bank policy adjustments.

Is it good to buy when the housing market crashes? ›

This decreased demand means less competition for homes on the market, which in turn means sellers who are more open to lowering their prices. So buying during a recession, if you are financially able to, may get you a better deal.

What happens to my mortgage if the economy collapses? ›

What Happens To Your Mortgage Rates & Payments? If you have a fixed-rate mortgage, then your monthly payments will remain the same, which can be beneficial in a high-inflation environment. However, if you have an adjustable-rate mortgage, expect your payments to increase.

What will happen to housing prices in a recession? ›

Home prices might also change during a recession. While the cost of financing a home typically rises when interest rates rise, home prices may fall. Fewer people compete for the same home inventory because there is less demand and fewer buyers.

How does housing affect the economy? ›

Changes in house prices, rents and mortgage interest rates can affect households' income and wealth, as well as how much money they spend and on what. Housing costs and policies can also shape where people chose to live, work and study, as well as their ability to move or change jobs.

Who profited the most from the housing market crash? ›

Michael Burry is an investor who profited from the subprime mortgage crisis by shorting the 2007 mortgage bond market, making $100 million for himself and $700 million for his investors. Burry shut down his hedge fund, Scion Capital, in 2008.

Is it harder to buy a house now than in the Great Depression? ›

Conversation. The median annual pay during the Great Depression was 22% of the cost of an average home. Today, it's 14%. It's harder to buy a house today than it was during the Great Depression.

How long did it take for house prices to recover after 2008? ›

Home prices fully recovered by late 2012. If someone bought a house at the very peak of the recession in 2007 and held the property for 5 years, they made money in appreciation after 2012. It took 3.5 years for the recovery to begin after the recession began.

What happens to the housing market if the dollar collapses? ›

If you're planning to sell, you might face a buyers' market where prices are lower. If you're buying, you might find more affordable options but also face stricter mortgage lending criteria. Stay informed about your local housing prices and consult with real estate professionals for the best approach.

What happens to real estate during economic collapse? ›

During a recession, there are usually fewer buyers, so houses stay on the market longer. This encourages sellers to lower their listing prices to make their homes easier to sell. You might find it difficult to sell during this period.

How many people lost their homes in the financial crisis? ›

The Crash. The collapse of the housing market during the Great Recession displaced close to 10 million Americans as rising unemployment led to mass foreclosures. 1 In 2008 alone, 3.1 million Americans filed for foreclosure, which at the time was one in every 54 homes, according to CNN Money.

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