Consumer Housing Sentiment Bounces Back -Fannie Survey

Fannie Mae said its September NationalrnHousing Survey noted a rebound in consumer housing optimism after a dip wasrnrecorded in August.  Most indicators havernreturned to the modestly positive trend the survey had recorded throughout the earlyrnpart of the year.  Fannie Mae said it wasrnprobably the turbulent world political situation that weighed down Americanrnattitudes toward the housing market over the past two months.</p

After dropping by 3 percentage points inrnAugust the share of survey respondents who said it is a good time to buy arnhouse rose 4 points in September to 68 percent and the share who said theyrnwould prefer to buy a home for their next move ticked back up to 66 percentrnafter a three point drop.  Those whornthink it is a good time to sell eased up 1 point to 39 percent.</p

There was a bit more optimism aboutrnhousing prices as well.  Forty-fivernpercent of respondents now expect further price hikes over the next 12 monthsrncompared to 42 percent in August.  Thernscale of the expected increase however has been fairly consistent over the lastrnthree or four months. </prn