The 2008 financial crisis caused a severe contraction in the U.S. housing sector. It led to significant tightening of underwriting standards, forcing many potential first-time homebuyers to postpone their home purchase decisions. Through a combination of unprecedented economic stimulus by the Fed, modifications of unaffordable loans and the clearing of distressed inventory through foreclosures, home prices finally stopped their decline in 2012. Subsequently, an extended period of low mortgage rates brought back borrower demand and robust underwriting restored investor confidence, resulting in steadily increasing housing activity. This positive momentum continued into 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic sharply accelerating demand. The U.S. housing market has now surpassed its pre-financial crisis activity and price levels, leading some to speculate that a housing bubble could be forming, but we disagree.
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The NEAM Vantage Point series of publications delivers actionable insights to insurance executives by covering a wide range of investment and capital markets topics relevant to the insurance industry.