Home Price Analysis for Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA

With home prices rising strongly in most parts of the country, there has been widespread media coverage on the possibility of a housing market bust. A thorough analysis of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metro market, as detailed below, reveals that there is very little danger of this. In fact, the local housing market is in excellent shape with a potential for significant housing equity gains, particularly for homebuyers who plan to remain in their house for the long run.

Because prices have risen faster than income, the ratio of price-to-income is currently above the historical norm. This measure is frequently cited to imply that there is a housing market bubble. But this ratio is a misleading measure in assessing bubble prospects. A more relevant measure is the mortgage servicing cost relative to income. This ratio is currently below the local historical average. It implies no widespread financial overstretching to purchase a home in the region. Furthermore, the nationwide supply of homes on the market relative to home sales is very lean, suggesting similarly tight market conditions in the local area.

Price Activity

The current price of $249,100 is about 20% above the national average.

The median home price rose 13% in 2004 and 56% in the past three years.

Home price growth has been weak throughout the 1990s. So part of the recent increase is attributable to the "catch-up" effect.

Affordability

Because the prices have risen faster than income in recent years, the ratio of price-to-income has been rising steadily. This measure is frequently cited to imply that there is a housing market bubble.

Mortgage rates declining to 45-year lows have been a major force in boosting home prices in recent years. Lower rates allow homebuyers to obtain a larger loan without necessarily increasing monthly mortgage payments.

A more relevant measure for assessing the risk of a home price bubble is the median mortgage servicing cost relative to the median income. This ratio is currently hovering at the local historical average. It implies no widespread financial overstretching to purchase a home in the region.

Local Fundamentals

Jobs are returning. There have been 5,600 payroll job additions in the past 12 months. Many new job holders seek their own housing units.

In the past five years, the region added an estimated 17,000 new housing units of which 15,000 were single-family units.

The ratio of five-year job gains to five-year new home construction shows the "hangover" impact of the housing shortage, or housing surplus. In our case, the local market is suffering from a housing shortage as the ratio is above one. With recent job gains and the expected continued economic expansion, the jobs-to-new home ratio could further increase.

Other Factors

There is no good information regarding interest-only loans in the local market. But if it reflects a national trend of a higher usage of interest-only loans, then some homeowners could feel the pinch of higher rates over time.

The baby boomers are in their peak earning years and have been active in purchasing second homes, which many consider their future retirement homes. The baby boomer impact could continue for another decade.

The outer edges of the local market could benefit from second-home purchases by baby boomers, particularly given the relatively close proximity to New York.

Additional Discussion Points

Home price declines are very rare. In fact, the national median home price has not declined since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Stock market collapses, the OPEC oil crunch, economic recessions, and even wars have not negatively impacted national home prices since the 1930s.

There have been few times when local prices declined. In nearly all these cases, the price declines were accompanied by sharp prolonged job losses. It is difficult to foresee a price decline in a job creating economy.

Homes trade far less frequently than financial assets (about one home sale every 7 to 10 years for most homeowners). There are also larger transaction costs associated with selling a home due to the lengthy careful examination demanded by home buyers and sellers. Therefore, home prices are not prone to fluctuations as in the stock market. There are neither panic sells nor margin calls associated with homes.

Many non-quantifiable factors could be important for this metro market in determining home prices. Access to cultural life, the quality of museums, nearby local and national parks, water views, exclusive neighborhoods, weather, the international airport, city vibrancy, restaurants, and a host of other non-quantifiable factors could have an important influence on the overall pricing.

There are immense tax benefits to owning a home. These tax considerations were not considered in the analysis. For example, the 1998 law permitting primary owner occupants to trade down without having tax consequences. Also most home sales results in no capital gains tax. In addition, long-term capital gains tax rates were reduced in 2003, thereby providing higher return for home investors. These positive benefits, if accounted for in the analysis, would have shown an even stronger case for housing fundamentals in supporting home prices.

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