American Homeowners Lose $9,200 In Equity As Rising Interest Rates Cool Housing Market, But $17.5 Trillion Cushion Signals Reset Not Collapse

Core Insights - American homeowners experienced an average equity decline of $9,200 over the past year due to rising interest rates, but experts view this as a market reset rather than a collapse [1][2][3] Homeowner Equity - Home equity fell by $141 billion, or 0.8% year-over-year, reaching $17.5 trillion in Q2, with the number of homes in negative equity increasing by 18% to 1.15 million [2] - Despite the decline, the average American borrower still holds approximately $307,000 in equity, marking the third-highest level on record [3] Market Conditions - The housing market has transitioned from a period of rapid growth to a plateau, indicating a long-term market correction rather than a collapse [3] - In regions like Washington, D.C., and Florida, where equity fell by $34,000 and $32,000 respectively, homeowners still maintain significant equity cushions [4] Affordability Concerns - The U.S. housing market is facing challenges as home prices lag behind inflation, making ownership less affordable despite values remaining near record highs [4][5] - The Case-Shiller index reported a 0.3% monthly decline in June, marking the fourth consecutive drop, with annual growth slowing to 2.1% compared to a 2.7% rise in consumer prices [5] Criticism of Mortgage Giants - Economist Peter Schiff criticized Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for inflating demand and pushing prices higher, which he argues has turned the "American Dream" into a debt trap for many [6]