Michigan Real Estate News

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Zombie Properties Becoming More Common

In the first quarter of 2021, 1 in 14,825 homes sat empty during the foreclosure process, but that number is on the rise. In the second quarter, one of every 12,256 homes are zombie properties. The spike may be due to lenders foreclosing on homes that were already abandoned. However, even with the increase, zombie foreclosures are still just a blip on the radar screen. The trend has been seen before when government officials try to delay foreclosure proceedings for so long that distressed borrowers simply abandon the property before the foreclosure can take place.

Real Estate Slow Down In Sight?

Although nearly 50% of the homes sold for more than their list price in the last four weeks ending May 16, there are signs that housing market demand may be reaching its peak. In the 7-day stretch leading up to May 16, pending sales were down 10%  from four weeks prior. Home prices remain astronomically high, although mortgage rates spiked last week, jumping 6 basis points to 3%. There has also been a slow down in new listings.

Millions Face Eviction & Uncertainty

As states challenge the federal moratorium on evictions, families across the U.S. don’t know if they’re going to have a place stay.  An avalanche of evictions could soon become a reality as renters owe $53 billion to landlords. The Texas Supreme Court lifted the moratorium on evictions on March 31. As a result, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has the third-most eviction filings in the country. The moratorium is scheduled to be lifted on June 30. According to the Aspen Institute, 40 million Americans are at risk of losing their homes.