Increase in housing starts are up for the month, but down 45% from a year ago.
Not in Austin, but nationally, there is still a glut of homes on the market, many of which are foreclosures or distressed properties. The low interest rates and the $8,000 tax credit have had a major impact on the reductions in that glut, but it’s not over yet. As interest rates rise, more people will be excluded from the market. Some experts feel that the rates will be forced lower to sustain the housing recovery. Some hope for a $15,000 tax credit for all buyers to significantly alter the damage done by the falling market. We in Austin will reap the benefits as our housing market ramps up this summer.
