Real Estate Prices and

Real Estate Prices and Economic Cycles This file is part of IDEAS , which uses RePEc data [ Papers | Articles | Software | Books | Chapters | Authors | Institutions | JEL Classification | NEP reports | Search | New papers by email | Author registration | Rankings | Volunteers | FAQ | Help! ] Real Estate Prices and Economic Cycles Author info | Abstract | Publisher info | Download info | Related research | Statistics Author Info John M. Quigley () ( University of California ) Additional information is available for the following registered author(s): John M. Quigley Abstract No abstract is available for this item. Download Info To download: If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have theproper application toview it first. Information about this may be containedin the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read the IDEAS helpfile . Note that these files are not on the IDEASsite. Please be patient as the files may be large. File URL: http://business.fullerton.edu/irer/papers/past/vol2_pdf/001-020RealEstatePrices.pdf File Format: application/pdf File Function: Full text Download Restriction: Full access on the Web As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it: Publisher Info Article provided by Asian Real Estate Society in its journal International Real Estate Review . Volume (Year): 2 (1999) Issue (Month): 1 () Pages: 1-20 Download reference. The following formats are available: HTML , plain text , BibTeX , RIS , ReDIF Handle: RePEc:ire:issued:v:02:n:01:1999:p:1-20 Keywords: Real Estate Prices, Economic Cycles Contact details of provider: Postal: Asian Real Estate Society c/o Department of Real Estate and Construction The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Email: Web page: http://www.econ.keio.ac.jp/staff/seko/AsRES/ Order Information: Postal: Asian Real Estate Society c/o Department of Real Estate and Construction The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Email: Web: http://www.econ.keio.ac.jp/staff/seko/AsRES/asnewsmem1.html For technical questions: (IRER Graduate Assistant/Webmaster). Related research Find related papers by JEL classification: L85 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Real Estate Services Cited by ( explanations , Please report citation or reference errors to ): Patric Hendershott & Robert J. Hendershott & Bryan D. MacGregor, 2005." Evidence on Rationality in Commercial Property Markets: An Interpretation and Critique ," NBER Working Papers 11329, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] Statistics Access and download statistics Did you know? You can use IDEAS to provide links to papers and articles in your course syllabus. This page was last updated on 2005-12-14. This information is provided to you by IDEAS at UConn Economics using RePEc data

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Capital One: Credit Cards, Auto Finance, Loans, and Savings Accounts Credit Cards Auto Loans Savings Home Loans Healthcare Finance Personal Loans Insurance Small Business Credit Cards Rewards Account Auto Savings Line of Credit Contact Us Help Site Map Credit Cards Auto Loans Savings Home Loans Healthcare Finance Personal Loans Insurance Small Business Credit Cards No Hassle Miles Cards Other Rewards Products Auto Savings Line of Credit New? Register here Login Requirements • Beware of fraudulent e-mails • Capital One Bowl and Mascot Challenge Credit Cards Mail Offers Personal Small Business Auto Loans and Insurance New/Used Refinance Insurance Savings High Yield Savings CDs Money Markets Home Loans Home Equity Refinance Purchase Small Business Credit Cards Loans Line of Credit Other Loans Personal Loans Healthcare Finance Auto Loans Blank Check ® auto loans Rates as low as 5.39% No money down Learn More Auto Loans as low as 5.39% APR 30-36 Mo What’s my mortgage payment? Loan Amount: $ Interest Rate: % Loan Term: 30 20 15 Years Other Calculators About Capital One | Investors | Press | Careers | Education | Capital One does not provide, endorse, nor guarantee and is not liable for third party products, services, educational tools, or other information available through this site. Read additional disclosures . Site Map | Privacy | Security | Terms and Conditions Capital One Bank, Capital One, F.S.B., members FDIC. ©2005 Capital One Services, Inc. Capital One is a federally registered service mark. All rights reserved. Blank Check ® is a registered trademark of Capital One Services, Inc. Equal Housing Lender Credit Cards | Auto Loans | Savings | Home Loans | Insurance | Healthcare Finance | Personal Loans | Small Business

Real Estate Agent By

BuyMyself - Canale, IRED Attitude & News Home Directories Int'l Realty US Realty BuyMyself Choosing A Real Estate Agent By Stephen M. Canale, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA There's a common saying in the real estate industry regarding the vast number of agents in the business: "If you don't have any friends who are agents, then you probably don't have any friends at all." With so many agent out there, how can you make an intelligent decision? Do you choose a friend, neighbor or coworker? Should you work with an agent at a large firm, a small firm, a franchise or an independent? While there's an exception to every rule, and every marketplace has its own nuances, here are some solid rules to apply when you want the best representation to protect your interests. Demand Experience The real estate profession is plagued by high turnover. This creates a workforce that is made up of many newcomers. While there are brand new agents with good intentions, why trust one of the largest investment you'll ever buy or sell to someone without experience? Always look for an agent with at least two years of experience. Anyone still in the business after two years has probably learned at least the fundamentals of real estate. Look for Commitment Another problem we have in the industry is a large number of part time and recreational salespeople. These folks have either retired from some other career, work in real estate seasonally or are earning a second income for the family and honestly don't need to work full time. No matter how long they have been in real estate, their lack of full-time commitment makes it impossible for them to keep up with the vast changes in law, marketing and business practices that are occurring in the profession today. If an agent isn't working at least thirty hours a week, fifty weeks a year, look for someone else. Consider Education In the majority of states, the requirements for real estate licensing are substantially less than those for cutting hair. In Michigan, for example, all that is required is a forty-hour class and a multiple choice test. You cannot rely on licensing to indicate competence. And, unfortunately, many agent's real estate education ends with their pre-license education. While there are numerous advanced real estate education courses available, the only technical and competence based program available nationwide is the Graduate, REALTORS® Institute (GRI) series, which is administered under the direction of the National Association of REALTORS®. A REALTOR® who completes the fifteen eight-hour modules, and passes examinations, may then use the designation of GRI. While only 15%-20% of agents have earned this accreditation, it should not be too difficult finding a GRI in your marketplace as they will commonly print the designation behind their name in advertising as well as on letterhead and business cards. Conduct Interviews Before you hire an agent to help you buy or sell a home, you should interview at least three agents in person. In order to do this, first get recommendations from friends, family and neighbors. Then look on the web, in homes magazines and the local newspaper to see what kind of marketing the various companies are doing in your area and call a few that impress you. Then make brief fact-finding calls to determine which of the agents on your list are full time, experienced and either hold the GRI designation or are at least working aggressively toward it. You will probably need to call ten to fifteen agents in order to find three that are worth interviewing. The interview itself need not be a formal one. It is simply an opportunity for you to meet the candidate and explain your needs; and to determine whether you would be comfortable working with them. Ask whatever questions you like, or simply explain your goals and listen carefully to what they propose to do for you in meeting your needs. The decision If you follow the suggestions above, you will find that there are excellent agents working for firms both large and small; both franchised and independent. Thus, the real decision must be made based on the competency of the individual agent you will be working with on a day-to-day basis. Stephen M. Canale is President, Broker/Instructor of Acclaim Residential Marketing Ann Arbor, Michigan | IRED Home | Search IRED | © 1995-2005 IRED.Com, Inc All Rights Reserved

House Rentals Contact Us

Costa Rica Real Estate for rent: apartments, houses and vacation rentals in Costa Rica Quick Finder Exclusive Properties Gated Communities Luxury Rentals Beachfront Properties Ocean View Properties ------------- Beach Properties Farms and Mountain Homes for Sale Investment Opportunities Condos for Sale Vacation Rentals Long Term Rentals ------------- Hotels for Sale Land Development Bars & Restaurants Other Investments ------------- Conversion Table Contact Us Call us 1-888-607-6772 Costa Rica Apartment & House Rentals Contact Us Christmas and new year rental in Costa Rica available call now 1-888-607-6772 or in Costa Rica 844-54-31 click here! Below you will find a small selection of our Costa Rica rental homes, condominiums for rent and our special selection of Costa Rica vacation rentals. Each of our real estate rental listings of Costa Rica includes a brief description and a picture. You will also find in this section a variety of Costa Rica beach vacation rentals! Costa Rica's Central Valley is still the most popular place to live, for both Ticos and foreign residents in Costa Rica. Our rentals of residential real estate listings include Costa Rica homes for rent and condominiums for rent in the Central Valley. We combine desirable locations in West and East San Jose such as Escazu, Santa Ana, Rohrmoser, Sabana, San Antonio de Belen, Sabanilla, Montes de Oca and Moravia among others. You will also find attractive house and condominium rentals in the provinces of Heredia and Alajuela, where locations such as la Garita and la Guacima are very appealing because of their wonderful weather, nearby facilities, very nice neighborhoods and homes. If you are looking for relaxation and a good vacation in Costa Rica, we have beautiful beach houses and beach condominiums for short term rentals in Costa Rica. Our listing of vacation rentals in Costa Rica include desirable locations such as Guanacaste in amazing beaches like Famingo, Tamarindo, Playa Grande¸ El Coco, Ocotal, Playa Hermosa, Papagayo and others. Along the Pacific or West Coast of Costa Rica¸ we offer beach homes and beach condos for rent in places like Puntarenas, Manuel Antonio, Dominical, Jaco and more? If you prefer the exotic Caribbean or East Coast of Costa Rica, ask for our vacation houses and bungalows rentals in Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, Punta Uva, Cocles and others. Don't wait until the last moment to make your reservations... Contact us Price: US$450/Day US$1900/Week US$5000/month Enjoy your stay in San Jose in style: Deluxe House in Escazu Comfortable house with easy access to Escazu's finest shopping centers and restaurants More Information... Contact Us Outstanding 3 bedroom 2 baths in Los Suenos Golf Resort and Marina A perfect place under the sun! Impeccable 3 bedroom 2 baths unit (200m2 or 2,100sq feet) in the most outstanding vacation place of Costa Rica: Los Suenos Golf Resort and Marina.... Luxury home in a natural resort setting overlooking Los Suenos Golf Course and surrounding mountains in Herradura Bay area. Enjoy the privacy and peacefulness of beautifully landscaped grounds, swimming pool, gym and entertainment area just outside the door... More Information... Contact Us Weekly Rate $3,800 US per week or $600 US nightly (3 night minimum). Semana Santa (Holy Week) $6,500. Flamingo Beach House Rental This magnificent, five-bedroom home, that sleeps up to 10 people, has all the luxuries. Excellent, breathtaking, Pacific Ocean views and views of Flamingo Beach, a private swimming pool, jacuzzi, close to beach access, modern kitchen, and much more. There are granite countertops throughout kitchen and baths. More Information... Contact Us Size: 1400 m2 lot with 400m2 construction area Rent: US$2,500 per month Beautiful Escazu house for rent only 2 minutes from Multiplaza Mall Situated on the trendy side of Guachipelin, with nearby coffee shops and bistros and only 2 minutes from Multiplaza Mall, this spacious house has 3 bedrooms, with masterroom with Jacuzzi and walking closet, 2.5 bathrooms and maid's quarters with full bathroom. The living area and kitchen are very elegant, and a terrace with great view of the nearby Escazu mountains. The swimming pool and the ranch make it perfect for a nice Sunday Barbecue. The garage has space for at least 6 cars. More Information... Leased! Looking for similar properties? Contact Us Size: 325 m2 or 3,500 sq feet. Rent: US$3,500 fully furnished and equipped / US$3,000 unfurnished. Maintenance fee included. Luxury Condo for rent in heart of Escazu Tastefully decorated condominium in the heart of Escazu, walking distance to everything, fully furnished and equipped. 3 bedrooms, 3,5 baths, maids room, 2 terraces, 2 car covered parking spaces More Information... Leased! Looking for similar properties? Contact Us Costa Rica's Premier Destination Colina 2 bedroom condo, Los Suenos Luxury Rentals Colina 2 bedrooms luxury golf view condo in Colina, Los Suenos. Short walking distance to the beach, full access to beach club in Los Suenos, Marriott Hotel, Marina, Shops, Bars & restaurants. Maids service. Arrival and departure gifts. Unlimited concierge services. More information... Contact Us Los Sueños Luxury Rental Ocean View House Enjoy a private paradise while vacationing in this exotic luxury villa. Located on a mountainside within the beautiful Los Suenos Resort and overlooking Herradura Bay, you will enjoy absolute privacy while having the benefit of all resort amenities and security. More information... Contact Us Mansion for rent Los Sueños Luxury Mansion Rental Luxury beach mansion for rent at Los Sueños Resort Community near Playa Jaco. Luxury and sophistication define this beautiful house, a real tropical palace Spanish Mediterranean style, located in Los Suenos, just 1 mile from the world class sport fishing marina and casino. More information... More Information... Beach house rental Manuel Antonio Beach house rental This beautiful and unique house sits on a cliff overlooking Punta Quepos, the sea, and Manuel Antonio National Park. It was designed to provide stunning views from every window and terrace. The house is small and cozy (approx. 100 sq. meters or 1,000 square feet) and thus is suitable for no more than four adults. More Information... Contact Us Price: US$346,500 Area: 4,500 sq. feet const (418 m2) 10,205 sq. feet of land (948 m2) Chalé Style House in Rohrmoser Leased! Looking for similar properties? Contact Us Beautiful and spacious 3 level Swiss Chalé located in an exclusive peaceful residential area of West San Jose. Ample gardens make this home an absolutely private haven. This gorgeous home for sale or rent consists of tall coffered ceilings, large windows and two balconies. A beautiful park is located just crossing the street. This house for rent in Costa Rica: US$2,250/month (a minimum one year contract)7 More Info... Luxury Golf Condo Valle del Sol 3Bdrm 3.5 Bathroom Located in San Jose's most exclusive gated community with a world class golf course. Valle del Sol is close to shopping, downtown, dining and 5 minutes from Forum Business Center. Ideal for corporate managers, families and couples that want privacy, security and beautiful surroundings. More Information... Contact Us San Jose Mountain City Long Term Rental Villas / Vacation Rental Located in one of the most beautiful small cities, Heredia (known as the City of Flowers). 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Contact Us Find: Gated Communities Luxury Rentals Beachfront Properties Only Ocean View Properties Golf Residences Top Exclusive Properties - - - - - - - - - Vacation Rentals Long Term Rentals - - - - - - - - - Beach Properties Farms and Mountain Home for Sale Investment Opportunities Condos for Sale Conversion Table Contact Us Beach Properties | Farms and Mountain | Homes for Sale Investment Opportunities | Condos for Sale | Vacation Rentals | Rentals Top Exclusive Properties | Gated Communities | Luxury Rentals | Beachfront Properties Only Ocean View Properties | Golf Residences | Costa Rica Office Space Our Company | Listings | Info Request | Articles | San Jose Attractions | Faqs | Photo Gallery | Contact Us List your properties with us | Costa Rica Real Estate | Costa Rica Vacation Rentals CONTACT: Properties in Costa Rica www.propertiesincostarica.com info@propertiesincostarica.com Toll free USA and CANADA: 1-888-607-6772 USA: 1 (516) 869-4565 Costa Rica: + (506) 844-5431 * Fax: + (506) 289-0969 * * from the US & Canada dial 011 first Escazu, Centro Comercial El Cruce, 2nd floor, Suite 25 Across the street from ScotiaBank and next to Pops Postal Address: #SJO 72013, 1601 NW 97th Ave. Doral, Fl 33172-2853 Member of Costa Rica Real Estate Brokers Board Member of Fiabci Member of Costa Rica Chamber of Tourism Member of National Association of Realtors All photographs and texts in this site property of PCR Propiedades de Costa Rica SA (PCR) unless otherwise noted. Copying, reproduction or sending to third parties is allowed only with written consent of PCR Request travel information about Costa Rica Design, marketing and hosting by Amerisol Top Exclusive Properties Gated Communities Luxury Rentals Beachfront Properties Only Ocean View Properties Golf Residences Residential Lots Escazu and West Valley Real Estate Buying property in Costa Rica

home equity lines of

Home Equity Lending Gaps in Texas The Texas Economy March 2003 "Texans need and deserve the right to take out home equity lines of credit.This simple change will pump $741 million back to Texas homeowners." -- Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Texas Comptroller Home Equity Lending Gaps in Texas The number of Texans with home equity loans has more than doubled since 1997 when changes in the Texas constitution made it easier for Texans to borrow against the equity they have in their homes. [1] Yet, Texans are still not taking as many home equity loans as residents in other states. In the traditional home equity lending market—the segment that involves a lump-sum payout of equity to be repaid over a set term—Texans seem to have caught up with the rest of the nation. Indeed, the estimated 6.4 percent of Texas home-owners with traditional home equity loans in 2001 is not only up considerably from 2.5 in 1997 but may well be higher than the average for the other 49 states of 5.7 percent (Figure 1). [2] This most likely reflects the fact that one portion of the home equity loan market—the home equity line of credit market—remains unavailable to Texans. An estimated $12.7 billion in higher-cost, non-tax-deductible loans that currently exist could be supplanted if home equity lines of credit were available and Texans used these financial options at the same rate as other consumers in the country. By taking advantage of a substantially untapped resource, Texas consumers could save $741 million annually using home equity lines of credit instead of other loans. These savings could be pumped into the Texas economy through lower interest rates and additional federal income tax deductions. The gains would be realized in the Texas economy if existing loans were merely paid off by homeowners through home equity lines of credit. This need not expand homeowners’ overall debt burden. Home Equity Lending in Texas For more than 160 years, access to the home equity that owners had built up in their residences was largely untapped. As a direct result of the Panic of 1837, Texas prohibited the forced sale of homesteads for all but a very limited number of reasons. When Texas became a state, these protections became part of the state constitution and effectively barred foreclosing on a person’s residence for reasons other than non-payment of taxes, the original mortgage or a home improvement loan. These same provisions also effectively barred tapping into home equity for purposes other than home improvement. But on November 4, 1997, Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing more leeway in home equity lending and for reverse mortgages. [3] These loans became available to Texans in 1998, but some technical issues limited the availability of home equity loans for homesteads larger than one acre and from reverse mortgages. Subsequent amendments addressed these legal concerns. [4] Changes in the Texas Constitution expanded the conditions under which homeowners could obtain a traditional home equity loan. These closed-end loans extend for a specified length of time and generally require repayment of interest and principal in equal monthly installments. Interest rates on these loans are ordinarily fixed for the life of the loan. Growth in Home Equity Lending in Texas Since changing the Texas constitution to allow wider use of home equity loans, Texans have steadily increased their reliance on these loans. According to American Housing Survey (AHS) data on nine Texas metropolitan areas that cover 68 percent of Texas’ owner-occupied homes, only 2.5 percent of Texas homeowners had any form of home equity loan in 1997, substantially less than the 14.5 percent for all U.S. homeowners outside of Texas that same year. By 1999, the proportion of Texas homeowners with a home equity loan had risen to 4.5 percent. While this represents nearly a doubling of home equity loan usage in just two years, this was still slightly less than the estimated 5 percent rate for home equity loan usage in the nation and substantially less than the 12.9 percent estimated by the AHS that year for both home equity loans and lines of credit. By 2001, the proportion of Texas households with home equity loans had reached 6.4 percent. At this level, the usage in Texas actually exceeded the usage rate of fixed-term closed-end loans in the U.S., indicating that Texans may have reached the saturation point with traditional home equity loans. These loans typically are written for a set amount to be repaid in equal installments over a specified time, just like a traditional mortgage. Based on a survey conducted for the Comptroller of Public Accounts of home equity lenders in Texas, from 1998 to 2000, the amount of the average home equity loan was about $36,750. In 2001 and 2002, the average home equity loan jumped to more than $47,000. [5] Closing the Gap Although Texans’ reliance on home equity loans has grown substantially since the passage of the constitutional amendment, further gains may be unlikely. Other states’ average usage of 14 percent in 2001 included both traditional home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, financial instruments not now available to Texas homeowners. The possibility that the usage rate of traditional home equity loans in Texas exceeded the usage rate of similar loans in the nation probably indicates that without the home equity line of credit option, more homeowners are opting for the fixed term loans—their only other choice. During much of the 1990s, about 8 percent of U.S. homeowners had a home equity line of credit whereas about 5 percent of homeowners had a traditional loan. [6] In 2001, AHS data indicated an estimated 8.4 percent of homeowners had a home equity line of credit (HELOC) and 5.7 percent had traditional home equity loans. This newer form of home equity lending has become the preferred choice by homeowners in other states. A HELOC is a revolving account that permits borrowing from time to time, at the account holder’s discretion, up to a set credit limit. HELOCs also typically have more flexible repayment schedules than traditional home equity loans and have a variable interest rate. Most consumers think home equity lines of credit are more convenient than traditional home equity loans. While about 40 percent of consumers cited the tax advantages of both types of home equity credit as an important consideration, 43 percent of HELOC users cited convenience of use as an advantage, compared with only 1 percent of those using the traditional home equity loans. [7] Many of the major lenders in Texas make HELOC loans to homeowners in other states. Their experiences underscore how attractive this option is to consumers. Figure 2 presents the percentage of the amount of home equity loans and lines of credit written in Georgia, Florida and California by three major Texas lenders. [8] About 88 percent of the consumers in these states choose HELOCs compared with about 12 percent choosing traditional home equity loans. Potential Economic Impact of HELOCs in Texas One approach to examining what expanded home equity lending might mean in Texas is to estimate what consumers would save if they had access to HELOCs. Three issues are crucial when estimating this impact: what savings could be expected from lower interest costs; how much would HELOCs lower federal income tax bills; and how large total borrowing might become. Underlying this assessment is the assumption that if Texans had access to HELOCs the total home equity usage in Texas would approach the U.S. average. This implies that consumer use of both home equity lines of credit and traditional loans would reach about 14 percent, 7.6 percentage points up from the 2001 level, which was 6.4 and consisted of only traditional home equity loans. The true economic value of HELOCs to consumers lies in low interest rates and as a deduction from federal income taxes. For example, recent data from February 2003 show that the average interest rate on credit card debt is 13.8 percent, the rate for new auto loans is 5.8 percent and on home equity lines of credit, 4.4 percent. [9] This implies that on a $1,000 loan, annual credit card interest charges would be $138 whereas these charges would amount to only $44 for the home equity line of credit. On $1,000 in outstanding credit card debt, conversion of this debt to a HELOC would save $94 in interest payments annually. But even this neglects the fact that HELOC interest costs are deductible from federal income taxes, whereas credit card interest charges are not deductible. Although each individual’s exact marginal tax rate paid depends on adjusted gross income, the National Bureau of Economic Research estimates that, on average, in 1999 interest deductions reduced income taxes 24.5 cents per dollar of interest paid. [10] This implies that, on average, the $44 in HELOC interest payments would generate an estimated $10.78 in federal income tax savings so that the total consumer savings per $1,000 in credit card debt replaced by HELOC would be $104.78 annually. Savings from other loans would be less dramatic. Based on current rates, car loans would cost $58 in interest charges per $1,000 borrowed, or only $14 more than HELOC. But tacking on the deductibility of HELOC raises this savings to $24.78 annually per $1,000 borrowed. The loans likely to be displaced by HELOC would be a mixture of credit card loans and other consumer loans such as car loans. According to Federal Reserve loan data, consumer debt nationwide at the end of 2002 was divided into $738.9 billion in revolving loans, of which credit card debt is a large part, and $1,017.9 billion in non-revolving loans. [11] Assuming Texas consumers have a similar debt profile, about 42 percent of Texas consumer debt would be in revolving credit and 58 percent in non-revolving. Based on these shares, the average consumer would save an estimated $58.38 in interest and tax payments per $1,000 owed by switching from other consumer credit sources to HELOC. [12] How much Texans could save depends on the volume of consumer loans displaced. Using 2001 commercial bank data to update national figures indicates that the traditional home equity loan market in the U.S. reached $352.7 billion, up from $267 billion in 1997. Considering Texas’ share of home equity loans and the average per loan value, Texans account for an estimated 8.4 percent of the U.S. market for traditional home equity loans. Based on this percentage and assuming that Texans would use both traditional and HELOC loans at the national rate, Texas consumers would exchange $12.7 billion in existing loans for HELOC. In doing so, Texas homeowners would save $741 million in interest charges and federal income taxes annually. This would be a modest level of savings. The Federal Reserve Board estimates that households spend about 8 percent of their disposable personal income servicing the debt on revolving loans. [13] The $741 million annual savings from increased use of HELOCs would be about 1.7 percent of the annual amount Texans spend on debt service for revolving loans. [14] Home Equity Delinquencies If Texas consumers relied more on home equity lines of credit and followed national trends, loan delinquencies would likely fall. Based on American Bankers Association data (Table 1), Texas averages fewer loan delinquencies for closed-end home equity loans than consumers at the national level. Loan delinquencies did rise in Texas from 1999 to 2001, but dropped off in 2002. Table 1: Texas Home Equity Delinquency Rates Compared to All Other States Home Equity Delinquency Rates and All States First Mortgage Delinquency Rates* Closed-End** Home Equity Loans(1) Home Equity Lines of Credit(1) All States - First Mortgages(2) Texas All States All States Conventional FHA VA 2002 0.99% 1.30% 0.59% 3.06% 11.55% 7.87% 2001 1.17 1.28 0.73 2.96 10.78 7.67 2000 0.88 1.20 0.75 2.50 9.10 6.80 1999 0.77 1.26 0.62 2.60 8.60 6.80 * Delinquency Rates are based on the number of Loans Past Due 30 Days or More as a Percentage of Loans Outstanding. ** "Closed End" includes home equity and second mortgages (but not home improvement). SOURCES (1)Home equity delinquency rates obtained from "Consumer Credit Delinquency Bulletin" published quarterly by American Bankers Association. (2)First mortgage delinquency rates obtained from "U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2001" and Mortgage Bankers Association of America "Quarterly Delinquency Surveys." But nationwide, loan delinquencies for lines of credit are slightly more than half the rates seen for closed end home equity loans. Based on this pattern, a shift towards using home equity lines of credit from traditional home equity loans should lower overall home equity delinquency rates. Compared with first mortgages, the delinquency rates for both home equity loans and lines of credit are substantially lower. Summary The use of home equity loans in Texas has risen dramatically following constitutional changes in Texas in 1997. Use of closed-end traditional home equity loans in Texas exceeds nationwide use. The fact that home equity lines of credit are not available in Texas contributes to a higher reliance on traditional home equity loans. But the strong consumer preference expressed for HELOCs in other states and consumer preference for their ease of use may indicate that continued expansion of lower interest, tax deductible home equity financing by consumers in Texas may slow without access to these loans. If Texans were to use home equity financing only up to the national average through HELOCs, lower interest payments and lower federal taxes would save Texas consumers $741 million. Making HELOCs available to Texas consumers would require passing another constitutional amendment and legislation proposing such amendments will likely be introduced during the current legislative session. If the nature of consumer safeguards and other requirements on lending institutions in Texas making HELOC loans were significantly more restrictive than national practices, interest rates on these loans in Texas could be higher than national rates, and the economic impacts less. Data Collection While banking and finance are two of the most heavily regulated industries, this level of scrutiny does not always result in the availability of detailed information. Since 1987, banks and finance companies have reported home equity lines of credit under receivables on quarterly Call Reports and since 1991 have also separately reported their holdings of traditional closed-end home equity loans. Mutual savings banks also report these data on Federal Reserve Board Call Reports. Other segments of the financial industry report this information to varying degrees. Savings and loan associations and federal saving banks report credit line receivables on Call Reports, but they do not separate home equity loans from first mortgages. Since June 1996, finance companies have reported commercial and residential mortgages separately but do not distinguish between loans under lines of credit and traditional loans. Credit union data is available on both types of home equity debt from the Credit Union National Association. At the national level, some data track the degree to which consumers utilize the various home equity loan alternatives. Every two years the Federal Reserve Board surveys consumers’ use of credit. This data, while instructive on overall trends and the use of home equity loans and lines of credit, does not contain information about practices in particular states. Moreover, much of the state-specific data collected from financial institutions is available primarily for the location of the financial institution involved, and not where the loan was made. Where this data are available, coverage by type of financing (home equity loan versus line of credit) is limited. The Texas-specific data in this analysis is derived largely from two sources. First, the U.S. Bureau of the Census surveys about 60,000 Americans every two years about housing conditions. This survey includes questions about the usage of home equity loans, but only the most recent survey, from 2001, elicits responses on traditional home equity loans separately from home equity lines of credit. Because this survey is national, there is only partial coverage of Texas. Specifically, publicly available data from the survey identifies only responses coming from nine metropolitan areas in Texas. Although the sample does contain responses from non-metropolitan areas, these are not identified by state. The Census survey covers about 68.2 percent of the Texas population. The second source of data is internal surveys of lending activity conducted by lending institutions doing business in Texas. These institutions cover more than 10 percent of the Texas market for commercial financial institutions and financial companies. These data are used to identify the potential to expand home equity lending in Texas if lines of credit became available. Endnotes [1] In 1997 and before, availability of home equity loans in Texas was limited to home improvement loans, loans to pay outstanding taxes and loans allowing one spouse to “buy out” another in the case of divorce. Such loans were typically known as a second lien against the property. Homeowners could not secure a loan backed by the equity in their home and use the proceeds of the loan for purposes other than those specified in law. Outside of Texas, using home equity loan proceeds for whatever purpose and even the more flexible home equity line of credit (a revolving line of credit secured by home equity) have been widely available for years. [2] The tentative nature of this statement stems from what seems to be respondent confusion to the American Housing Survey (AHS). In the 2001 AHS, 14 Texas households identified themselves as having a home equity line of credit in 2001. Since these lines of credit currently cannot be offered in Texas, the most likely explanation for this is that these respondents misunderstood the “line of credit” option in the survey as describing the “draw down” feature of a home improvement loan during construction when, in fact, these instances were almost certainly traditional “closed end” loans. Placing these responses in that category indicates that 6.4 percent of the homeowners in the survey in Texas had a closed-end home equity loan as compared to only 5.7 percent in states outside of Texas. [3] House Joint Resolution 31 (HJR 31) passed by the 1997 Legislature that, upon passage, became effective January 1, 1998. [4] On November 2, 1999, Texas voters approved constitutional amendments proposed by the 1999 Legislature to address these problems, Senate Joint Resolutions 12 and 22 (SJR 12 and 22). [5] Data submitted by lenders in early 2003. For number and amount of loans in Texas, the survey included five large Texas lenders. [6] Glenn B. Canner, Thomas A. Durkin and Charles A. Luckett, “Recent Developments in Home Equity Lending,” Federal Reserve Bulletin, April 1998, p. 243. [7] Canner, Durkin and Luckett, pp. 241- 251. [8] From data submitted by lenders. Together these three lenders serve more than 10 percent of the commercial banking market in Texas. [9] These rates and those of HELOCs are from http://www.bankrate.com/ on February 18, 2003. The credit card rate is for a standard card (not gold or platinum) at a fixed annual rate. The auto loan figure refers to a 48-month loan for a new car. The HELOC rate is for a $10,000 or minimum amount. [10] http://www.nber.org/~taxsim/mrates/mrates2.html , February 20, 2003. [11] Federal Reserve Board Statistical Release, G.19, Consumer Credit, February 7, 2003. http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/current/ . [12] This is a fairly conservative assessment on two points. First it assumes that consumers would replace current borrowing in proportion to the amount borrowed of each type without consideration of the interest rates charged for each type of borrowing. A more rational approach would be to replace all of the most costly borrowing first. Secondly, new car financing rates are among the lowest cost loans available and this probably underestimates the interest costs of non-revolving loans. [13] http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/housedebt/default.htm , February 19,2003. [14] Disposable personal income in Texas is estimated to be $535.2 billion in 2001. Carole Keeton Strayhorn Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Window on State Government Contact Us Privacy and Security Policy