Home price directions for 2009
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Offering its two cents on how various housing markets will fare in 2009 is Housing Predictor.
It seems where it’s cold it’ll be hot and where it’s hot (for the most part) it’ll be cold -- at least as far as home prices in 250 markets are concerned. Explains the website:
Two states with reputations for being some of the coldest places in the country dominate the Housing Predictor Top 25 housing markets for 2009. Montana placed all of its five forecast markets on the list, and neighboring North Dakota had 4 markets make the top 25 forecast to have the highest appreciation in home values during the year.
Here are the projected Top 10 markets:
Rank -- Market -- 2009 Forecast Gains
1. Bloomington, IL -- 3.6%
2. Grand Junction, CO -- 3.1%
3. Billings, MT -- 3.1%
4. Fargo, ND -- 2.9%
5. Lander, WY -- 2.3%
6. Trenton, NJ -- 2.3%
7. Morgantown, WV -- 2.0%
8. Logan, UT -- 2.0%
9. Bozeman, MT -- 1.8%
10. Albany, GA --1.8%
And, closer to home, the predicted Worst 10, where of course you knew you’d find California:
Rank -- Market -- 2009 Forecast Losses
1. Detroit, MI -- 24.3%
2. Riverside, CA -- 23.9%
3. Stockton, CA -- 23.8%
4. Los Angeles, CA -- 21.7%
5. Miami, FL -- 21.4%
6. Anaheim, CA -- 21.1%
7. Las Vegas, NV -- 19.8%*
8. Fresno, CA -- 19.7%
9. Phoenix, AZ -- 19.6%
10. San Diego, CA -- 19.5%
For a change, California made only six out of the 10 spots. But I’m detecting a pattern here. A lot of the bearish prognosticators seem to be agreeing on double-digit losses for home prices in Southern California this year. The bulls see things improving before the year is out. That’s a lot of territory between the two camps. Which are you in?
*Update: Thanks to commenter J.W. for pointing out the earlier typo in Las Vegas.
-- Lauren Beale
Thoughts? Comments?
