| Home sales in the over-whelming majority of local | | | | The national inventory of re-sale homes, condos |
| real estate markets have slowed throughout the | | | | and townhouses has hit historic levels and |
| US, according to the latest survey of Housing | | | | foreclosures in some areas of the country are |
| Predictor.com, an information driven website, | | | | already becoming common place, including Denver, |
| which provides real estate market forecasts in all | | | | Colorado and Indianapolis, Indiana. |
| 50 US States. | | | | Historically low interest rates kept in check by the |
| Some 86% of 350 US markets regularly | | | | Federal Reserve Board provided a fast paced |
| surveyed have transformed into buyers markets. | | | | market in many areas of the country for as long |
| Many have turned into markets that have | | | | as five years until the Fed rose interest rates for |
| become negotiable enough to be beneficial to | | | | borrowers 17 times. |
| purchasers after nearly five years of upward | | | | Now faced with a worsening housing market |
| appreciation. | | | | nationally and the possibility of inflation, the Fed's |
| Only six states local real estate markets are still | | | | policy makers have the task of balancing the |
| favorable for sellers, most of which are in the | | | | scales to keep inflation under control without |
| southeastern part of the nation. Only the last | | | | tipping the cart to cause further economic |
| frontier of Alaska remains elsewhere as the | | | | problems. |
| longest lasting last strong hold in the greatest | | | | New lending guidelines have also been instituted in |
| nationwide real estate market appreciation in US | | | | many cases to help stave off further loan fraud |
| history. | | | | on the heels of FBI reports that loan fraud is a |
| However, because of slower market dynamics | | | | national epidemic. |
| and upward mobility the Alaska real estate | | | | The fraud is expected to hit $5-billion, according to |
| market is also still not only showing strong signs | | | | many analysts. But compared to the massive |
| of appreciating, but should weather the on coming | | | | fraud that swept the housing market in the late |
| cyclical winter weather slowdown well through the | | | | 1980's caused by the Savings and Loan Scandal |
| last part of 2006. | | | | the developments are mild in comparison. The |
| Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and | | | | S&L Crisis was estimated to cost every man, |
| Kentucky are the last strong holds with local real | | | | woman and child in the US $10,000. |
| estate markets that are still appreciating. The | | | | The national real estate market has clearly shifted |
| south-east is growing at the fastest pace in US | | | | to a buyers market, where prices are falling in |
| history. | | | | many areas. Multiple listing service reports indicate |
| Lenders and real estate agents in Nashville, | | | | a national slowdown in sales volume. Real estate |
| Tennessee still report home sales at brisk levels. | | | | economists expect sales to improve as prices |
| Other markets scattered throughout the three | | | | lower, and look for the slow down to improve in |
| other southern states report equally compelling | | | | early 2007. |
| sales figures. | | | | |