Written by Steven Hansen
The non-seasonally adjusted S and P CoreLogic Case-Shiller home price index (20 cities – although only 19 cities this month) year-over-year rate of home price growth declined from 3.7 % to 3.5 %. The index authors stated, “a trend of accelerating increases in the National Composite Index began in August 2019. That trend was interrupted in May and June, as price gains decelerated modestly, but now may have resumed”.
Analyst Opinion of Case-Shiller HPI
All home price indices are now showing home price growth is accelerating year-over-year. At this point, it looks like the pandemic has little affected home prices (or sales for that matter).
- 20 city unadjusted home price rate of growth decelerated by 0.5 % month-over-month. [Econintersect uses the change in year-over-year growth from month-to-month to calculate the change in the rate of growth]
- Note that the Case-Shiller index is an average of the last three months of data.
- The market expected from Econoday:
Consensus Range | Consensus | Actual | |
20-city, SA – M/M | 0.1 % to 0.4 % | +0.2 % | +0.6 % |
20-city, NSA – M/M | 0.3 % to 0.5 % | +0.3 % | +0.6 % |
20-city, NSA – Yr/Yr | 3.6 % to 4.4 % | +3.7 % | +3.9 % |
S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices Year-over-Year Change
Comparing the NAR and Case-Shiller home price indices, it needs to be understood each of the indices uses a unique methodology in compiling their index – and no index is perfect.
The way to understand the dynamics of home prices is to watch the direction of the rate of change. Here home price growth is now accelerating.
There are some differences between the indices on the rate of “recovery” of home prices.
A synopsis of Authors of the Leading Indices:
Case Shiller’s Craig J. Lazzara, Managing Director and Global Head of Index Investment Strategy at S&P Dow Jones Indices stated:
Housing prices rose in July. The National Composite Index gained 4.8% relative to its level a year ago, slightly ahead of June’s 4.3% increase. The 10- and 20-City Composites (up 3.3% and 3.9%, respectively) also rose at an accelerating pace in July compared to June. The strength of the housing market was consistent nationally – all 19 cities for which we have July data rose, with 16 of them outpacing their June gains.
In previous months, we’ve noted that a trend of accelerating increases in the National Composite Index began in August 2019. That trend was interrupted in May and June, as price gains decelerated modestly, but now may have resumed. Obviously more data will be required before we can say with confidence that any COVID-related deceleration is behind us.
Phoenix’s 9.2% increase topped the league table for July; this is the 14th consecutive month in which Phoenix home prices rose more than those of any other city. Seattle (7.0%), Charlotte (6.0%) and Tampa (5.9%) continue to occupy the next three places, but there was some growth even in the worst performing cities, Chicago (0.8%) and New York (1.3%). Prices were particularly strong in the Southeast and West regions, and comparatively weak in the Midwest and Northeast.
CoreLogic believes home demand will remain firm moving forward (July 2020 Data). Per Dr. Frank Nothaft, chief economist at CoreLogic and Frank Martell, president and CEO of CoreLogic stated:
On an aggregated level, the housing economy remains rock solid despite the shock and awe of the pandemic. A long period of record-low mortgage rates has opened the flood gates for a refinancing boom that is likely to last for several years. In addition, after a momentary COVID-19-induced blip, purchase demand has picked up, driven by low rates and enthusiastic millennial and investor buyers. Spurred on by strong demand and record-low mortgage rates, we expect to see more home building in 2021 and beyond, which should help support a healthy housing market for years to come.
From the National Association of Realtors (August 2020 data):
Home sales continue to amaze, and there are plenty of buyers in the pipeline ready to enter the market. Further gains in sales are likely for the remainder of the year, with mortgage rates hovering around 3% and with continued job recovery.
Over recent months, we have seen lumber prices surge dramatically. This has already led to an increase in the cost of multifamily housing and an even higher increase for single-family homes.
The need for housing will grow even further, especially in areas that are attractive to those who can work from home. As highlighted in NAR’s August study, the 2020 Work From Home Counties report, remote work opportunities are likely to become a growing part of the nation’s workforce culture. Yun believes this reality will endure, even after a coronavirus vaccine is available.
Housing demand is robust but supply is not, and this imbalance will inevitably harm affordability and hinder ownership opportunities. To assure broad gains in homeownership, more new homes need to be constructed.
The U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency produces an All-Transactions House Price Index for the United States:
Econintersect publishes knowledgeable views of the housing market.
Caveats on the Use of Home Price Indices
The housing price decline seen since 2005 varies by zip code – and seems to have ended somewhere around the beginning of the 2Q2012. Every area of the country has differing characteristics. Since January 2006, the housing declines in Charlotte and Denver are well less than 10%, while Las Vegas home prices had declined by almost 60%.
Each home price index uses a different methodology – and this creates slightly different answers.
The most broadly based index is the US Federal Housing Finance Agency’s House Price Index (HPI) – a quarterly broad measure of the movement of single-family house prices. This index is a weighted, repeat-sales index on the same properties in 363 metro centers, compared to the 20 cities Case-Shiller.
The US Federal Housing Finance Agency also has an index (HPIPONM226S) based on 6,000,000 same home sales – a much broader index than Case-Shiller. Also, there is a big difference between home prices and owner’s equity (OEHRENWBSHNO) which has been included in the graph below.
Comparing Various Home Price Indices to Owner’s Equity (blue line)
The affordability factor favors rental vs owning.
Price to Rent Ratio – Indexed on January 2000 – Based on Case-Shiller 20 cities index ratio to CPI Rent Index
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