Housing Markets Stabilizing, Fundamentals Normalizing

MCLEAN, VA--(Marketwired - Aug 27, 2014) -  Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released its newly updated Multi-Indicator Market Index(SM) (MiMi(SM)) showing the U.S. housing market continuing to plod along with most markets still generally weak, while those with stronger local economies and favorable demographics continue to improve at a much stronger pace. The second quarter MiMi report is also available, which includes further analysis on each of the states, plus the District of Columbia as well as the top 50 metros areas.

News Facts:

• The national MiMi value stands at 73.7, indicating a weak housing market overall with only a slight improvement (0.04%) from May to June and a 3-month positive trend change of (0.16%). On a year-over-year basis, the U.S. housing market has improved by 7.67%. The nation's all-time MiMi high of 121.87 was June 2008; its low was 59.8 in September, 2011, when the housing market was at its weakest. Since that time, the housing market has made a 23.3 percent rebound.
• Thirteen of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia have MiMi values in a stable range, with North Dakota (96.2) the District of Columbia (94.3), Wyoming (92.3), Montana (89.7) and Alaska (88.7) ranking in the top five.
• Six of the 50 metro areas have MiMi values in a stable range, with San Antonio (92.0), Austin (87.4), New Orleans (84.8), Salt Lake City (84.5), and Houston (83.9) ranking in the top five.
• The most improving states month-over-month were Nevada (+1.56%), Illinois (+1.09%), Connecticut (+0.93%), Rhode Island (+0.87%) and Colorado and Kentucky (tied at +0.82%). On a year-over-year basis, the most improving states were Nevada (+23.5%), Florida (+14.8%), Illinois (+12.9%), California (12.0%) and South Carolina (+11.9%).
• The most improving metro areas month-over-month were Las Vegas and Riverside (tied at +1.69%) followed by San Jose (+1.48%), Chicago (+1.30%) and Miami (+1.19%). On a year-over-year basis the most improving metro areas were Las Vegas (+26.5%), Riverside, (+19.2%), Miami (+17.2%), Orlando (+16.1%) and Chicago (+15.9%).
• In June, 21 of the 50 states and 25 of the 50 metros are showing an improving three month trend. The same time last year, every state plus the District of Columbia, and every metro was showing an improving three month trend.

Quote attributable to Freddie Mac Chief Economist Frank Nothaft: