Stories by Svenja Gudell

Q1 2016 Negative Equity Report: Rust Belt Overtakes Sand States as Nation’s Nest of Negative Equity

As negative equity overall continues to fall, the epicenter of underwater homeowners in the U.S. has shifted from the notoriously hard-hit – but quick to recover – Southwest and Southeast, to the long-suffering and sluggish rust belt states. The shift is reflective of a housing market that has evolved from one driven by largely temporary factors caused by the massive housing boom and bust, to one driven by more fundamental, traditional factors like job growth, supply and demand.

Svenja Gudell • Jun 07 2016

April Case-Shiller Forecast: Slower National Growth, Faster Growth in 10 & 20-City Indices

Growth in the smaller, more coastal 10- and 20-city S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices in March was slightly stronger than expected, while growth in the larger U.S. national index came in slightly below expectations. Looking ahead, Zillow's April Case-Shiller forecast calls for another somewhat mixed bag, with annual growth in the 10- and 20-city indices picking up while national growth slows a bit.

Svenja Gudell • May 31 2016

March Case-Shiller: Slightly Stronger-Than-Expected Growth on the Coasts

Home price growth in larger coastal areas – as reflected in the March Case-Shiller 10- and 20-City Composite Indices – slightly exceeded expectations in March, while overall U.S. home price growth was slightly slower than expected.

Svenja Gudell • May 31 2016

April Market Report: Home Values Continue Their Feverish Climb Amid Tight Inventory

After having slowed their growth a bit in 2015, median home values are once again climbing at a faster than normal pace. In fact, home values are appreciating faster than many experts had expected, rising almost 5 percent over the past year, according to the April Zillow Real Estate Market Reports to a Zillow Home Value Index of $187,000.

Svenja Gudell • May 24 2016

March Case-Shiller Forecast: Expect the Slowdown to Continue

All three headline S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices grew at a slightly slower pace in February compared to January, and the slowdown should extend into March, according to Zillow’s March Case-Shiller forecast.

Svenja Gudell • Apr 26 2016

February Case-Shiller: A Slight Slowdown

Growth in home prices was slightly slower in February compared to January, according to the February S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, in line with our expectations for a slight slowdown.

Svenja Gudell • Apr 26 2016

Rapid Reaction: March New Home Sales

March new home sales fell 1.5 percent from February and were down 1.5 percent over the year, to 511,000 units (SAAR), according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Svenja Gudell • Apr 25 2016

Q1 2016 Market Report: Tight Inventory, Rapid Price Growth Represent Real Headwinds for the Market’s Core

Faced with rapidly appreciating home values and a dwindling supply of homes for sale in the critical entry-level and mid-market home segments, first-time and move-up home buyers – typically the housing market’s bread-and-butter – are likely in store for a tough spring home shopping season.

Svenja Gudell • Apr 21 2016

Rapid Reaction: March Existing Home Sales

March represented a much-needed rebound in existing sales volume after February's big monthly decline.

Svenja Gudell • Apr 20 2016

The U.S. Housing Affordability Crisis: How a Rent and Low-Income Problem is Becoming Everyone’s Problem

Continued deterioration in U.S. housing affordability – particularly at the low end of the market and for renters – is bringing to light a number of problems around income growth and social mobility that may have big implications for all Americans going forward.

Svenja Gudell • Apr 11 2016