Kevin Gillen Philadelphia Real Estate Q4 2010 Commentary

Kevin Gillen Philadelphia Real Estate Q4 2010 Commentary

Philadelphia House Values Hit New Low in Q4

House prices currently back to 2003 levels.

January 24, 2011: The Philadelphia housing market continued its downward trend this past quarter, as both

home sales and prices hit new lows. The typical Philadelphia home fell in value by an average of 4.2% on a

quality- and seasonally- adjusted basis this past fall, according to the latest data from the City’s Recorder of

Deeds. This most recent decline adds to the 4.6% decline from the previous quarter, which has seen house

prices resume their downward trajectory following the expiration of the Federal homebuyer tax credit this past

spring.

With this most recent decrease, the average Philadelphia home has now fallen in value by a cumulative total of

15% since the bursting of the national housing bubble several years ago. This is a new low for the

Philadelphia House Price Index, and it indicates that Philadelphia’s house values have now reverted back to

2003 levels.

The decrease in house prices was citywide, with no area of the City being spared. From largest to smallest, the

average decline in house prices by neighborhood were: West Philadelphia (-10.1%), North Philadelphia (-

9.8%), Kensington/Frankford (-8.5%), South Philadelphia (-7.3%), Center City/Fairmount (-5.4%), Lower

Northeast Philadelphia (-5.4%), University City (-3.5%), Upper Northeast Philadelphia (-2.7%) and Northwest

Philadelphia (-0.8%).

 

The news was equally negative for sales activity. 2,817 homes changed hands in Q4; a 15% decrease from Q3

and a 33% decrease from the same time last year. Although sales activity typically shows a seasonal decline

during the cold weather months, this was the lowest level of Q4 home sales activity and third-lowest level of

any quarterly sales activity since data began being tracked in 1995.

 

However, even with the latest downbeat numbers, Philadelphia continues to weather the current housing

downturn much better than most other major U.S. cities. According to Case-Shiller MacroMarkets’ composite

house price index, house prices have fallen by an average of 31% in the largest U.S. cities since the bursting of

the housing bubble, compared to only 15% in Philadelphia. Currently, only two cities—Dallas and Denver—

have experienced smaller total declines in average house values than Philadelphia. Even with this quarter’s

significant price drop, Philadelphia remains in third place of the twenty largest cities in the U.S. for the least

house price declines.

 

These latest data continue to provide mounting evidence that not only is Philadelphia’s housing devaluation

part of a national—rather than local—trend, but that the elimination of the Federal homebuyer tax credit has

removed significant, and critical, government support for the housing market. While the tax credit was

intended to stabilize house values, these latest data seem to confirm that it provided only a temporary relief

from falling house prices, rather than a more permanent stabilization of them.

However, some leading indicators do point towards some reason for optimism in 2011. First, the rate of price

declines slowed in Q4 compared to Q3. Secondly, the relatively modest devaluation experienced by

Philadelphia’s housing stock has helped to keep the percentage of homeowners who are “underwater” (owing

more money on their mortgage than their house is worth) relatively small. And indeed, foreclosure rates in the

Philadelphia area continue to remain well below National levels. Lastly, the latest housing market metrics,

such as Philadelphia’s price-to-rent ratio and inflation-adjusted house price index, indicate that Philadelphia’s

house prices are indeed close to being back to where their long-term fundamentals indicate they need to be,

which should eventually act as a brake to further house price declines.

Whether 2011 is the year the local housing market finally hits bottom is something that we will continue to

monitor.

Email for Kevin Gillen: [email protected]

 

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Blog post compliments of CenterCityTeam’s Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

Frank L. DeFazio, Esquire
Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors – Society Hill
530 Walnut Street, Suite 260
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215.521.1623  Direct
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[email protected]
www.CenterCityTeam.com