1 in 4 U.S. Homes Still Underwater, but Negative Equity Growth Rates Slowing

---

According to a new report by CoreLogic released today, more than 11.2 million, or 24 percent, of all residential properties with mortgages, were in negative equity at the end of the first quarter of 2010, down slightly from 11.3 million and 24 percent from the fourth quarter of 2009. An additional 2.3 million borrowers had less than five percent equity. Together, negative equity and near-negative equity mortgages accounted for over 28 percent of all residential properties with a mortgage nationwide.

Negative equity, often referred to as "underwater" or "upside down," means that borrowers owe more on their mortgage than their homes are worth. Negative equity can occur because of a decline in value, an increase in mortgage debt or a combination of both.

National Data Highlights

Negative equity continues to be concentrated in five states: Nevada, which had the highest percentage negative equity with 70 percent of all of its mortgaged properties underwater, followed by Arizona (51 percent), Florida (48 percent), Michigan (39 percent) and California (34 percent). Las Vegas remains the top ranked CBSA with 75% of mortgaged properties being underwater, followed by Stockton (65%), Modesto (62%), Vallejo-Fairfield (60%) and Phoenix (58%). Phoenix had more than 550,000 underwater borrowers, the most households of any metropolitan market in the country. Riverside (463,000), Los Angeles (406,000) Atlanta (399,000) and Chicago (365,000) round out the top five markets.

The share of borrowers whose mortgage debt exceeds the property value by 25% or more fell slightly to 10.4% or 4.9 million borrowers, down from 10.6% or 5 million borrowers. The aggregate dollar value of negative equity for these deeply underwater borrowers was $656 billion dollars.

The negative equity share for borrowers with junior liens, such as closed end second liens or home equity lines of credit (HELOC), was 38% compared to 19% for borrowers that did not have a junior lien. The foreclosure rate for borrowers with junior liens was 4%, compared to 2% for borrowers without junior liens.

"The two most important triggers of default, negative equity and unemployment, have stabilized over the last six months. As house prices grow again and borrowers pay down their mortgage debt negative equity levels will begin to diminish. The typical underwater borrower is likely to regain their lost equity over the next five to seven years," said Mark Fleming, chief economist with CoreLogic.

---