Salient to Investors:
Moody’s forecast home equity lines of credit will rise 30 percent in 2012 to the highest level since the start of the financial crisis in 2008, and rise another 31 percent in 2013. Mustafa Akcay at Moody’s Analytics said lending will keep rising if house prices continue to rise.
The Mortgage Bankers Association forecast the median US home price will gain 8 percent in 2012, the fastest pace since 2005. Home equity in Q2 was the highest level since 2007.
Chris Christopher at IHS Global Insight said homeowners will spend more of their equity, not at the same pace as in 2005 and 2006, and should have a positive impact on consumer spending.
The median economist expects the economy probably to grow 2.2 percent in 2012, and unemployment to average 8.1 percent.
Anika Khan at Wells Fargo Securities said home-equity lenders and borrowers will be more discerning this time.
Read the full article at http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-26/home-equity-loans-make-comeback-fueling-u-s-spending-mortgages.html