Survey

A new study conducted by Trulia and RealtyTrac found that 56 percent of U.S. renters and 47 percent of current homeowners are at least "somewhat likely" to purchase a foreclosed home. Along with having some concerns about hidden costs and still-declining home values, many potential buyers expect to save money if they buy a foreclosure. On average, survey respondents said they would expect to pay 38 percent less for a foreclosed home than a similar home that was not in foreclosure - not too far above today's average discount of 36 percent.


The Trulia-RealtyTrac survey also polled respondents on the federal government’s efforts to help struggling homeowners. Forty-five percent of those surveyed said the government is not doing enough to prevent foreclosures. Only 17 percent say too much is being done, while 16 percent say they are doing the right amount and 22 percent were undecided. As more cities across the nation experience double dips in home prices, more than half (54 percent) of those surveyed believe recovery in the housing market will not happen until 2014 or later. Note 30% of those surveyed said they themselves have, or they know someone who has experienced trouble with their mortgage situation and applied for a loan modification, stopped making their payments, been foreclosed on, simply walked away, or sold their home through a short sale transaction.