78% of Americans Believe Home Prices Have Bottomed

Beacon Economics analyzed home affordability and came away feeling optimistic.

Beacon Economics founding principal Christopher Thornberg, whose firm advises a variety of business clients, says the high level of affordability is likely to drive demand and reduce the stock of excess inventory, ultimately resulting in the need for new housing, a rise in prices, and a pickup in new construction.

"While prices may fluctuate modestly over the next several months, we believe the worst of the housing crisis is behind us," says Beacon Economics Research Manager Jordan G. Levine. "We expect prices to stabilize around current levels and likely be higher in the next 12 months."    Source: Beacon Economics (10/11/2010)

Worst is over?

AND......

Fannie Mae has conducted a poll of both homeowners and renters to gauge consumers’ attitudes toward housing in the U.S. The results indicate that Americans have become more cautious about buying a home, though most believe the market has bottomed out.

Rents are expected to increase more than home prices, and Fannie says mortgage borrowers and underwater borrowers are less discouraged about homeownership, while delinquent borrowers and renters are more pessimistic.
Of the respondents to the Fannie Mae National Housing Survey, 47 percent believe home prices will hold steady over the next year, while 31 percent expect them to rebound.

Seventy percent of Americans think now is a good time to buy a house, compared with 64 percent in a similar survey conducted in January 2010.   Bottomed out?