Debunking the Housing Market Headlines

If youre following the news, chances are youve seen or heard some headlines about the housing market that dont give the full picture. The real estate market is shifting, and when that happens, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. Thats where a trusted real estate professional comes in. They can help debunk the headlines so you can really understand todays market and what it means for you.

Here are three common housing market myths you might be hearing, along with the expert analysis that provides better context.

Myth 1: Home Prices Are Going To Fall

One piece of fiction many buyers may have seen or heard is thathome pricesare going to crash. Thats because headlines often use similar, but different,termsto describe whats happening with prices. A few you might be seeing right now include:

• Appreciation, or an increase in home prices.
• Depreciation, or a decrease in home prices.
• And deceleration, which is an increase in home prices, but at a slower pace.

The fact is,expertsarent calling for a decrease in prices. Instead, they forecastappreciation will continue, just at a decelerated pace. That means home prices will continue rising and wont fall. Selma Hepp, Deputy Chief Economist atCoreLogic,explains:

. . . higher mortgage rates coupled with more inventory will lead to slower home price growthbut unlikely declines in home prices.

Myth 2: The Housing Market Is in a Correction

Another common myth is that the housing market is in a correction. Again, thats not the case. Heres why. According toForbes:

A correction is a sustained decline in the value of a market index or the price of an individual asset.A correction is generally agreed to be a 10% to 20% drop in value from a recent peak.

As mentioned above, home prices are still appreciating, and experts project that will continue, just at a slower pace. That means the housing marketisnt in a correctionbecause prices arent falling. Its just moderating compared to the last two years, which were record-breaking in nearly every way.

Myth 3: The Housing Market Is Going To Crash

Some headlines are generating worry that the housing market is a bubble ready to burst.But experts say today isnothing like 2008.One of the reasons why is because lending standards are very different today. Logan Mohtashami, Lead Analyst forHousingWire,explains:

As recession talk becomes more prevalent, some people are concerned that mortgage credit lending will get much tighter. This typically happens in a recession, however,the notion that credit lending in America will collapse as it did from 2005 to 2008 couldnt be more incorrect, as we havent had a credit boom in the period between 2008-2022.

During the lasthousing bubble, it was much easier to get a mortgage than it is today. Since then,lending standardshave tightened significantly, and purchasers who acquired a mortgage over the last decade are much more qualified than they were in the years leading up to the crash.

Bottom Line

No matter what youre hearing about the housing market, lets connect. That way, youll have a knowledgeable authority on your side that knows the ins and outs of the market, including current trends, historical context, and so much more.