Homeowner Equity Is Lowest Since 1945

NEW YORK (AP) - Americans' percentage of equity in their homes fell below 50 percent for the first time on record since 1945, the Federal Reserve said Thursday.

Homeowners' portion of equity slipped to downwardly revised 49.6 percent in the second quarter of 2007, the central bank reported in its quarterly U.S. Flow of Funds Accounts, and declined further to 47.9 percent in the fourth quarter - the third straight quarter it was under 50 percent.

That marks the first time homeowners' debt on their houses exceeds their equity since the Fed started tracking the data in 1945.

The total value of equity also fell for the third straight quarter to $9.65 trillion from a downwardly revised $9.93 trillion in the third quarter.

Markwes wrote:That's the way to do it. I refinanced and knocked 10 years off my mortgage. I can now look at my bill to compare principle paid against interest without crying.

LTRT2 wrote:

Markwes wrote:That's the way to do it. I refinanced and knocked 10 years off my mortgage. I can now look at my bill to compare principle paid against interest without crying.

What AMAZES me the most about this country is the mentality of people. They have 40 yr mortgages now and my boy had a gal who he works with take out a 84 mth loan on a Hyundia.