Will Long Term Home Ownership Lead to Profits or Declining Values?

The latest report from PMI Mortgage InsuranceDallas, TX. We are looking at a time period from
company looks at real estate trends. The report1986-2005.
indicated that if you owned a home from 1986 thruIn San Francisco the return for any 5 year period
2005 in 50 of the largest metropolitan areas, you didranged from a gain of 50% to a loss of 10%. The
very well. During that period of time, if you owned amedian return was 33%. Families staying in their
home for 10 years or more, you profited 100% ofhomes for 15 years did not incur any losses. Their
the time. If you owned a home during this period forgains were from 14% to 25%.
7 years, the percentage of homeowners thatHome buyers in Los Angeles saw the greatest losses
profited were 95%.during this time period. The median return for a 5
The economics now are shifting. In the top 50year period was positive at 25%, however, losses
metropolitan areas of the country, 48 of them faceranged up to 41% in some cases. A family that
a greater chance of a price decline this quarter thenstayed in its home for 15 years in LA saw a return
they did last quarter.of 10% to 24%.
PMI assigns a risk index number to differfentIn the Dallas market trends were seen that were not
markets. All 50 of the major metropolitan areas,seen in other markets. After 5 years of home
except Chicago, have seen their risk index numberownership, homeowners saw their gains max out at
go up. A risk score of 500 or more means the22%. Families who owned homes for 10 years or
geographic area has a high risk of price declines in themore did not see losses, but they did not always see
real estate market. There are now 14 of 50 areasgains either. During this time period gains ranged from
that have a risk score of 500 or more, which means0% to 24%.
that metropolitan area has a 50% chance of priceThe stable markets looked at were Atlanta, Nashville
decline during the next two years. The averageand Cleveland. Atlanta had a median gain of 20% for
score has increased from 261 last quarter to 284 this5 years of home ownership. For 15 years the gain
quarter. The metropolitan area that saw its risknarrowed to 11% to 15%.
increase the greatest was Minneapolis, MN, whichIn Nashville a 5 year homeownership ranged in gains
saw an increase in its risk index of 90 points.from 6% to 25%. FOr 15 years of home ownership
Of the metropolitan areas with the highest risk,the gains were from 11% to 15%.
seven of top ten are in California.Home ownership in Cleveland for 5 years showed an
The report looks at volitile markets and stableincrease from 7% to 23%. For 15 years of home
markets. First lets look at the volitile markets. Theseownership gains were from 12% to 15%.
include San Francisco, CA; Los Angeles, CA; and