Warning: These States Are Most at Risk for Falling Home Prices (2024)

As the housing market correction continues, certain parts of the country have become more vulnerable to the real estate downturn than others.

California, Illinois, New Jersey, and Delaware are home to the most at-risk housing markets, according to a Special Housing Risk report released by real estate data firm ATTOM.

“Some parts of the country remain considerably more exposed to housing market declines than others,” says Rob Barber, CEO of ATTOM. “While pockets of the country have popped on and off the lists of most or least vulnerable markets, the top 50 list has consistently included the New York City and Chicago areas, as well as Delaware and inland California, over the past two years.”

The report looked at nearly 600 counties with sufficient data across the country in the fourth quarter of the year to determine which ones were most exposed to a potential decline in home prices.

ATTOM analyzed the percentage of homes in each county facing a potential foreclosure, the share of homes with underwater mortgages, the percentage of average local wages needed to afford homeownership expenses for median-priced, single-family homes and condos, and local unemployment rates from October to December 2022.

With 30-year mortgage interest rates climbing above 7%, inflation remaining at a 40-year high, and declines in the stock market, homebuyers across the country just aren’t able to afford as much house as they were during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s led home prices to fall in some markets, putting some recent homebuyers who bought at the peak in danger of owing more on their mortgage than their home is currently worth.

Where are the most at-risk counties?

California, Illinois, and New Jersey had 31 of the 50 counties most vulnerable to potential declines across the United States—which have been more or less the same as in the summer when 28 of the 50 counties most vulnerable to home price declines were found in those three states.

Cleveland has three of the most at-risk counties in the country and two counties in Delaware ended up on the list. The rest of the at-risk list counties are clustered in other parts of the East Coast.

The Chicago and New York City metropolitan areas had the largest clusters of at-risk counties, with five in and around New York City and seven in the Chicago vicinity.

Nationally, about 5.9% of homeowners were underwater on their mortgages in the last quarter of 2022, according to ATTOM. The state with the highest percentage of these homeowners was Illinois, with at least 7%.

In Illinois’ Peoria County, about 18.5% of homeowners were underwater; in Rock Island County, 16.1% were underwater; and in Kankakee County, just outside Chicago, about 14.6% were underwater.

What are the least at-risk counties?

The areas least vulnerable to a downturn are often some of the pricier parts of the country where homeowners can afford the higher costs.

Seventeen of the least at-risk counties were in the Midwest, 15 were in the South, and nine each were in the West and Northeast. Wisconsin had six of the 50 least at-risk counties in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Many of the safer real estate markets were pricier counties with high demand for homes.

In these counties, the cost of homeownership consumed the smallest portion of average local income, and the unemployment rate and foreclosure risk were lower.

Less than 5% of residential mortgages were underwater in the fourth quarter in 31 of the 50 counties least at risk. The counties with the lowest percentage of mortgages where homeowners owe more than their homes are worth were Chittenden County, VT, home to Burlington, at 1.1%; Martin County, FL, home to Palm City, at 1.6%; San Mateo County, CA, at 1.9 %; and Santa Clara County, CA, home to San Jose, at 2%.

“The most expensive housing markets around the nation … generally face lower levels of exposure to downturns,” says Barber.

Warning: These States Are Most at Risk for Falling Home Prices (2024)

FAQs

What four cities will have big home declines? ›

In four cities in particular, supply levels are above pre-pandemic levels, the bank said, which will result in greater price declines than the national average. They include: Phoenix, Arizona; San Francisco, California; Seattle, Washington; and Austin, Texas.

What is the most likely cause for falling housing prices? ›

Rising interest rates (making mortgage payments more expensive) Economic recession / high unemployment (reducing demand and causing home repossessions).

Which 3 US states have the most vulnerable housing markets by far? ›

New Jersey, Illinois and California lead the nation with markets where properties are vulnerable amid a housing downturn and possible upcoming recession, according to a new report from real estate analytics company Attom.

In which states are house prices most overvalued? ›

At a state level, Hawaii, South Carolina and North Carolina were the most overvalued housing markets, Fitch said.

Where is housing dropping the most? ›

Leading the nation with the largest drop from the 2022 peak is San Francisco, where home prices have fallen nearly 17%. Other cities with double-digit home-price declines from last year's peaks include Seattle, San Jose, and Phoenix.

What state has the worst housing shortage? ›

Story at a glance

California currently has the largest deficit of homes at 980,000.

What are 5 reasons the housing market is not about to crash? ›

When will the housing market crash? Actually, economists do not think it will. Housing economists point to five main reasons that the market will not crash anytime soon: low inventory, lack of new-construction housing, large amounts of new buyers, strict lending standards and a drop in foreclosures.

Will inflation cause housing prices to drop to? ›

Inflation may dampen housing demand and cool down prices.

What will happen if the housing market crashes? ›

As prices become unsustainable and interest rates rise, purchasers withdraw. Borrowers are discouraged from taking out loans when interest rates rise. On the other side, house construction will be affected as well; costs will rise, and the market supply of housing will shrink as a result.

What states are in a housing crisis? ›

15 States That Could Be Heading for a Housing Crisis
  • New Mexico. % of Mortgages 30-89 days delinquent: 1.2% ...
  • New Jersey. % of Mortgages 30-89 days delinquent: 1.0% ...
  • Georgia. % of Mortgages 30-89 days delinquent: 1.3% ...
  • Maryland. % of Mortgages 30-89 days delinquent: 1.1% ...
  • Florida. ...
  • Alabama. ...
  • Indiana. ...
  • Illinois.
Jun 4, 2023

Where is the best state to buy a house? ›

10 best states for first-time homebuyers plus key factors
RankState1-year home price change: 2021–2022
1Pennsylvania4.1%
2North Carolina10.1%
3Utah5.8%
4Kentucky7.2%
6 more rows
Mar 2, 2023

Which states have housing crisis? ›

  • California, 978,000.
  • Texas, 322,000.
  • Florida, 289,000.
  • New York, 234,000.
  • Washington, 140,000.
  • New Jersey, 137,000.
  • Colorado, 127,000.
  • Arizona, 123,000.
Jul 21, 2022

Where have house prices risen the least? ›

These are the least overvalued housing markets in the U.S., according to Moody's Analytics:
  • Maryland (-5.2 percent as of September 30)
  • Illinois (1.7 percent as of September 30)
  • New York (6.0 percent as of September 30)
  • California (6.3 percent as of September 30)
  • Alaska (6.4 percent as of September 30)
Nov 24, 2022

Where is the most expensive housing in the world? ›

In 2020, Hong Kong had the most expensive residential property market worldwide, with an average property price of 1.25 million U.S. dollars. The government of Hong Kong provide public housing for lower-income residents and almost 45 percent of the Hong Kong population lived in public permanent housing in 2018.

What are the most undervalued housing markets in the US? ›

What are the most undervalued housing markets in the US in 2023?
Omaha, NE22.3%
San Francisco Bay Area, CA28.6%
Philadelphia, PA28.7%
Chicago, IL29.4%
Baltimore, MD29.5%
15 more rows
Feb 9, 2023

Will 2023 be a good time to buy a house? ›

Homebuyer.com data analysis indicates that, for first-time home buyers, June 2023 is a good time to buy a house relative to later in the year. This article provides an unbiased look at current mortgage rates, housing market conditions, and market sentiment.

Where is real estate dropping in the US? ›

Among the most expensive cities that saw prices falling are Anaheim, California, with the median price of $1,132,000, down 1.6% from a year ago; Los Angeles, with the median price of $829,100, down 1.3%; and Boulder, Colorado, with the median price of $759,500, down 2.0%.

What state has the biggest housing crisis? ›

California's chronic shortage of housing manifests itself in sky-high housing costs, the nation's worst poverty and its highest level of homelessness.

What is the least affordable state to live in? ›

Hawaii and California are the LEAST affordable places to live in the U.S as incomes fail to keep up with soaring property prices.

What state has the most affordable housing right now? ›

Cheapest States To Buy A House
RankStateQ4 2021 All-Transactions House Price Index
1Tennessee310.42
2Illinois280.26
3Oklahoma407.56
4Ohio543.83
16 more rows
May 1, 2023

Is it better to buy when the housing market crashes? ›

Buying a property during a recession has advantages

This encourages sellers to cut their listing prices to sell their homes faster. Auctions may yield a reasonably priced house. To boost the economy, the Fed reduces interest rates during recessions. Banks decrease rates, including mortgage rates.

Why there won t be another housing crash? ›

When will the housing market crash? Actually, economists do not think it will. Housing economists point to five main reasons that the market will not crash anytime soon: low inventory, lack of new-construction housing, large amounts of new buyers, strict lending standards and a drop in foreclosures.

Is the housing market going to crash in us? ›

Are we in a housing bubble right now? While a housing price correction is expected, we aren't in a housing bubble. Demand for homes remains high, and there are fewer home sellers than there were in 2022. And while the market is cooling, experts don't expect an actual housing crash or a housing bubble burst in 2023.

Is it good to buy house during inflation? ›

As long as inflation continues to rise, your savings will afford you more purchasing power now than they will in the future. Even if inflation and home prices seem high now, as long as inflation continues to increase house prices, you will be better off buying a house today than you will be tomorrow.

Will inflation go down in 2023? ›

After peaking at 6.2% in 2022, we expect inflation to fall to 3.5% for 2023. Over 2024 to 2027, we expect inflation to average just 1.8%—below the Fed's 2% target.

Who benefits from inflation? ›

Inflation allows borrowers to pay lenders back with money worth less than when it was originally borrowed, which benefits borrowers. When inflation causes higher prices, the demand for credit increases, raising interest rates, which benefits lenders.

Will house prices go down in 2023 usa? ›

Although home prices are expected to improve in the second half of the year, the California median home price is projected to decrease by 5.6 percent to $776,600 in 2023, down from the median price of $822,300 recorded in 2022.

What happens to my mortgage if the economy collapses? ›

Recessions and housing market crashes may cause your house's value to decrease. However, your set mortgage rates won't lower, meaning your monthly payments will be higher than your home's worth. While many may dip into their savings to help pay the steep bills, others may need outside assistance.

Will I ever afford a house? ›

Stick to the 28/36 Rule. No matter how you finance your home purchase, most experts agree that people should not spend more than 28% of their gross income on housing expenses, and no more than 36% on debt. For example, if you earn $5,000 each month, your ideal mortgage payment should be no more than $1,400 per month.

Why is housing becoming unaffordable? ›

The imbalance between supply and demand; resulted from of strong economic growth creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs (which increases demand for housing) and the insufficient construction of new housing units to provide enough supply to meet the demand.

Which US cities are in a housing bubble? ›

In the U.S., Miami was the city with the highest risk of a housing bubble and reported the highest house prices and rental growth of all the cities in the study. For the rest of the country, the Magic City was followed by Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, and New York.

Who is most affected by the housing crisis? ›

Low-Income Households Are Particularly Affected by Unaffordable Housing. Households with the lowest incomes are by far the most likely to have housing costs that are unaffordable.

What state has the cheapest houses 2023? ›

Mississippi

Mississippi, “The Magnolia State,” is the birthplace of Elvis Presley and the delta blues. It's also the cheapest state to buy a house in 2023. As of 2020, the total state population was 2,961,279, making it the 32nd most populated state. The most populated city is Jackson, with 153,701 residents.

What is the best state in 2023? ›

The latest edition of the Best States rankings project finds a new No. 1 and a strong showing from the West and Midwest in the top 10. Utah has taken the No.

What state has the best housing market 2023? ›

Texas replaced California in 2023 as the strongest housing market by state. With an existing home inventory of 83,222, the available houses for sale have more than doubled since last year. It has seen a drop of about 6% in new construction and is now at 248,648 since 2022.

When was the last US housing crisis? ›

The United States subprime mortgage crisis was a multinational financial crisis that occurred between 2007 and 2010 that contributed to the 2007–2008 global financial crisis. The crisis led to a severe economic recession, with millions of people losing their jobs and many businesses going bankrupt.

Are US house prices likely to drop? ›

BENGALURU, May 31 (Reuters) - U.S. home prices will decline less than previously expected this year before stagnating in 2024, despite widespread expectations interest rates will remain higher for longer, according to property analysts polled by Reuters.

What time of year are house prices lowest? ›

Winter is usually the cheapest time of year to purchase a home. Sellers are often motivated, which automatically translates into an advantage to you. Most people suspend their listings from around Thanksgiving to the New Year because they assume buyers are scarce.

Where is the lowest house prices in US? ›

1. West Virginia. With a Zillow Home Value Index of $146,578, West Virginia is the most affordable state to buy a house in the US. Despite its low home prices, the state boasts natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities, making it an attractive option for homebuyers on a budget.

Who owns the biggest house in the world? ›

Who is the owner of the biggest house in the world ? Istana Nurul Iman Palace, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is the largest house in the world, spread over 2.15 million square feet.

Who owns most expensive house in the US? ›

The Chartwell Estate, located in Beverly Hills, California, is owned by the late head of Univision, Jerry Perenchi. Built in 1933, the French neoclassical home encompasses 25,000 square feet of land. It is situated on a 10-acre expanse of manicured lawns and gardens.

Where is the most unaffordable housing? ›

According to the 2023 International Housing Affordability Survey by Demographia, three out of the 10 least affordable housing markets are in Australia and New Zealand, two are in Canada and four more are located in the United States. The least affordable housing market is Hong Kong.

Where is the fastest growing housing market in the US? ›

U.S. metros with the biggest increases in home values in 2022
  • FarmingtonNew Mexico. 20.3% ...
  • North Port-Sarasota-BradentonFlorida. 19.5% ...
  • Naples-Immokalee-Marco IslandFlorida. 17.2% ...
  • Greensboro-High PointNorth Carolina. 17% ...
  • Myrtle Beach-ConwayS.Carolina/N.Carolina. ...
  • Oshkosh-NeenahWisconsin. ...
  • Winston-SalemNorth Carolina. ...
  • El PasoTexas.
Feb 13, 2023

What is the best housing market in the US? ›

20 Best Housing Markets for Growth and Stability
Stability
RankMetro AreaHistoric Rate of Home Value Loss1
1Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX2.00%
2Midland, TX0.00%
3Boulder, CO1.00%
17 more rows
Mar 27, 2023

Which housing markets are the most overpriced? ›

  • Charlotte, North Carolina.
  • Memphis, Tennessee. ...
  • Lakeland, Florida. ...
  • Palm Bay, Florida. Average listing price: $345,520. ...
  • Detroit. Average listing price: $226,101. ...
  • Deltona, Florida. Average listing price: $334,978. ...
  • Tampa, Florida. Average listing price: $361,065. ...
  • Nashville, Tennessee. Average listing price: $420,932. ...
4 days ago

What cities are most likely to leave Redfin? ›

The study found that the top 10 cities people were looking to move to were, in order, Miami; Sacramento; San Diego; Las Vegas; Tampa, Fla.; Phoenix; Cape Coral, Fla.; North Port, Fla.; Portland, Maine; and San Antonio, Texas. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc.

Which US cities are home values most likely to plummet in a recession? ›

If a major downturn hits the U.S. economy, home prices in the New York City, Chicago and Philadelphia areas are the most vulnerable to declines, according to a new report from real-estate data company Attom Data Solutions.

Which cities have the most overvalued homes? ›

The most overvalued markets to purchase a home tend to be in California, but also include Seattle, Washington, and “Zoom towns” such as Boise, Idaho, and Greeley, Colorado. The most overvalued markets to rent a home are mostly found in California and Florida.

What states have a housing shortage? ›

Chicago, Illinois, Houston, Texas, Dallas, Texas and Washington, DC follow, where the affordable housing shortage exceeds 150,000 rental units. The gap between affordable housing supply and demand is slimmer in Louisville, Kentucky, short by 15,300 rental units, and Buffalo, New York, short by 17,300 units.

What city are most people moving out of? ›

Cities With the Highest Number of Move-Outs
Rank(Highest Number of Move-Outs)City
1Los Angeles, CA (1st in 2022)
2Northern California (San Francisco Area) (2nd in 2022)
3Chicago, IL (3rd in 2022)
4Long Island, NY (4th in 2022)
6 more rows
May 31, 2023

What cities are people moving to 2023? ›

Based on migration data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans are moving to Austin, Texas; Raleigh, North Carolina; Orlando, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Phoenix, Arizona. The most moved-to cities are based on percentage increases in population since 2010.

What are the top cities Americans want to leave? ›

San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles are the top cities Americans want to leave, according to Redfin. Other cities in the top ten including Washington, D.C., Chicago, Boston, Seattle, and Denver.

Is it better to have cash or property in a recession? ›

In addition, during recessions, people with access to cash are in a better position to take advantage of investment opportunities that can significantly improve their finances long-term.

Will houses be cheap during recession? ›

Will house prices go down in a recession? While the cost of financing a home typically increases when interest rates are on the rise, home prices themselves may actually decline. “Usually, during a recession or periods of higher interest rates, demand slows and values of homes come down,” says Miller.

Do people still buy houses in a recession? ›

In general, buying a home during a recession will get you a better deal. The number of foreclosures or owners who have to sell to stay afloat increases, typically leading to more homes available on the market and lower home prices.

Where is the most unaffordable place to live? ›

Full Data Set
RankCountyMedian Home Price
1Ada County, Idaho$452,219
2Collier County, Florida$435,313
3Travis County, Texas$456,690
4Williamson County, Texas$378,412
9 more rows
May 1, 2023

What are the most unaffordable cities to live in? ›

The least affordable was Miami, where the median-priced home costs $598,000 and would require a monthly payment of $3,183 to cover mortgage and taxes — more than 85 percent of the local median household income of $44,581 (or $3,715 a month). Los Angeles and New York followed — no surprise given their steep home prices.

Is the US still in a housing crisis? ›

Studies have shown that for the past 40 years, housing supply has not kept pace with demand, resulting in a housing shortage ranging between 2 million and 6 million homes. Yet across America, a combination of recalcitrant homeowners and outdated zoning laws routinely block attempts to build more housing.

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