In response to a recent request for information from several government entities for “proposals for how best to deal with the large inventory of foreclosed homes” currently held by the government-controlled GSEs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), at least one real estate data firm is urging caution. Radar Logic announced plans to publish a response to government proposals to sell pools of foreclosed homes to investors to rent out with urging to be cautious, expressing concerns that such a move could “negatively affect home prices in the broader market”[1]. Given that the pools of foreclosures would sell at deep discounts, the data firm warned that this would negatively affect properties in the area if these distressed properties were factored into home appraisals. “Even if local appraisers do not use the bulk-sale properties as comps, there are many automated valuation models (AVMs) that would likely incorporate the prices of those homes,” the report stated.

The firm will present its own two-step strategy for reducing federal REO inventory in September. While the details of the plan are not yet public, Radar Logic has announced that as the first step, all distressed mortgages would be restructured. This step would not involve a foreclosure process at all. Then the bundles of debt and equity securities could be distributed to investors, and remaining REO properties would be rented out by GSEs through private-sector property managers[2]. This would remove the direct impact of the foreclosure pools’ sales on the surrounding markets.

Do you think that these plans should factor in whether or not they affect the overall home prices in the country, or should the main focus be to clear out the shadow and foreclosure markets quickly? Is it really realistic to try to “protect” housing prices when there are so many distressed properties on the market?

Thank you for reading the Bryan Ellis Real Estate Letter!

Your comments and questions are welcomed below.



[1] http://www.dsnews.com/articles/radar-logic-to-propose-plan-address-government-reos-2011-08-26

[2] http://www.eurekarealtynetwork.com/2011/08/27/radar-logic-comes-up-with-a-plan-to-address-government-reos