5 reasons why real estate rebound remains shaky

CNBC breaks down the top 5 reasons why real estate hasn't fully rebounded yet; none of this will come as a surprise to followers of HighRiseSF, since we've been talking about these issues for the past month:

Despite hopes that the market would begin showing signs of life this spring, the latest housing data suggests otherwise. Instead, the sector remains stubbornly moribund—trapped in a spiral of declining prices, increasing mortgage rates, unemployment and several unforeseen factors.

And with many experts believing that a real estate rebound is critical for the overall economy to recover, patience with housing is beginning to wear thin.

1) Unemployment

Consumers fearful of losing their jobs haven't been spending on much of anything, and housing tops the list.

That's a trend unlikely to change until unemployment turns around. So it's no coincidence that housing and the jobless rate are expected to recover right about the same time.

2) Credit Availability

Despite all the government efforts to inject liquidity into the capital markets, banks are still reluctant to lend.

While those with squeaky-clean credit histories and a lot of cash on hand are in a better position to get loans, the rest of the buyers are getting kicked out of the marketplace.

3) Price Pressures

Call it the ultimate Catch-22: Housing prices are still too high to attract buyers but too low for the many sellers who are underwater—owing more than their homes are worth—on their mortgages.

That's creating a crisis in the market that can only continue to play out until the supply and demand equation can level.

"The faster you clear off this excess inventory the faster you can stabilize home prices," says Walter Molony, spokesman for the National Association of Realtors.

4) Appraisals

The National Association of Realtors has contacted the New York Attorney General's Office to look into new standards under the Home Valuation Code of Conduct that the group says its making it impossible to get a fair assessment done of home values.

5) Short Sales

One of the ways that the industry hopes to get rid of excess inventory is through so-called "short sales" of property. Such transactions occur when a mortgage holder agrees to the sale of a property even though it is less than the amount owed.

Banks, though, have been reluctant to agree to the sales. Critics say the reticence from banks comes from a desire to hold the properties until values go up, a move made easier by recent changes to mark-to-market accounting rules. Banks, though, say prospective buyers are trying to take advantage of the situation by submitting low-ball offers.

Again, nothing new for followers of HighRiseSF, but still a good primer to get you up to speed, in case you don't have time to read through the archives of this blog.

SOURCE: CNBC