WASHINGTON – Oct. 9. 2014 – Tight mortgage lending standards continue to affect single-family builder sales, according to a survey released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
According to "well over half of the single-family builders surveyed," lending standards were "tight" or "very tight." Only 11 percent indicated that standards were "somewhat easy," and no builders described them as "very easy."
"While housing has seen some positive growth throughout the year, there is no denying that tight credit conditions are hindering a full, healthy housing recovery," says NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "These persistently tight mortgage credit standards continue to limit the number of creditworthy borrowers – particularly younger families and first-time home buyers – from entering the housing market."
The survey also asked builders if they had lost any sales over the past six months because potential buyers couldn't qualify for a mortgage, and 83 percent answered "yes." Of that 83 percent, the average number of lost sales was 9.7 percent.
NAHB estimates that the 9.7 percent translates into about 18,700 lost new-home sales because buyers couldn't qualify for a mortgage.
"NAHB advocates for prudent lending standards, but we've seen banks and regulators swing the pendulum too far and create an environment where lending standards are too restrictive," says NAHB Chairman Kevin Kelly. "We want a return to reasonable lending standards where qualified borrowers are able to obtain a mortgage and create the American dream for themselves."
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