FORECASTS & PREDICTIONS FOR HOUSING IN 2012 - Howard Voyles / HousingMatrix.com

David Liniger, Chairman and Co-Founder of RE/MAX released his Top 10 Real Estate Predictions for 2012:

• Continued low interest rates;
• Increasing numbers of home sales;
• Increasing numbers of home sales;
• Rising inventories, mostly due to increased foreclosures;
• Distressed properties will make up about half of all sales;
• An improved Short Sales process to help avoid foreclosure;
• Homeownership rates continue to fall;
• Foreign and domestic investors will buy 25% of homes;
• Increasing reliance on real estate agents;
• Increased use of Mobile & Social technologies.

MORE HOUSING FORECASTS:

Merrill Lynch – “It is too early to get bullish”.

Industry consultant John Burns - New Home Sales will increase from about 300k in 2011 to near 359k IN 2012 and Housing Starts from 600k in 2011 to near 717k (including multifamily).

Reuters – Lennar says high rents helped home order increase 20%.

Toll Brothers - Chief Executive Officer Douglas Yearley Jr. expects to sell about 2,600 homes. He said the company could deliver as many as 3,200 houses, up from the 2,611 sold in fiscal 2011.

Other - Builders have reduced their New Home inventory to 6 months and this will boost New Housing Starts.