Economists and housing experts are rightly concerned that many people will pull a “walk away” if the value of their homes fall too far below their actual mortgage prices. It’s a real problem that could flood the market with even more foreclosed homes.
But the Boston Business Journal has a terrific article about how Massachusetts is in relatively good shape on this front. The state ranks #4 in terms of home-equity ratio.
There are trouble spots throughout the state. Consult the BBJ’s home-equity database to see what towns are doing well and not so well. But the bottom line is:
Massachusetts benefits from a stable, aging population that tends to stay in their homes longer. Other states’ equity cratered because residents bought homes during the height of building boom, only to see prices collapse shortly afterward.
The key going forward is that prices here don’t fall much more.
