{"id":211920,"date":"2024-03-29T13:22:02","date_gmt":"2024-03-29T13:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/?post_type=definition&p=211920"},"modified":"2024-03-29T13:22:02","modified_gmt":"2024-03-29T13:22:02","slug":"housing-market-crash","status":"publish","type":"definition","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/housing-market-crash","title":{"rendered":"Housing Market Crash"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is a Housing Market Crash?<\/span><\/h2>\n

A housing market crash is best defined as a major drop in property prices that happens over a short period of time. This is bad news for homeowners as it means the value of their houses has dropped significantly and may fall further.<\/p>\n

Techopedia Explains the Housing Market Crash Meaning<\/h3>\n

A housing market crash occurs when property prices suddenly collapse within a relatively short period of time. It means the valuations of houses will have fallen, which will have an impact on existing homeowners and those looking to buy.<\/p>\n

\"Techopedia<\/p>\n

How Does a Housing Market Crash Affect Homeowners?<\/h3>\n

A real estate market crash is never good news for homeowners because it means the value of their properties will decline. However, some will be more affected than others.<\/p>\n

For example, those looking to sell their homes could be forced to reduce the price to attract a buyer. Those who have effectively bought at the top of the market, when prices were high, could find they now owe more than their property is actually worth. This is known as negative equity.<\/p>\n

If they are able to carry on with their mortgage repayments, the hope is that prices may start to eventually rise, and they can climb out of this economic situation. Of course, if the crash is due to rising interest rates<\/a> or an economic downturn, they may not be able to keep up with their repayments and could end up losing their homes.<\/p>\n

Can Anyone Benefit from a Housing Market Crash?<\/h3>\n

First-time buyers who are looking to get on the property market could benefit from a sudden housing market crash as properties will have become cheaper. It means they can either pay less for the same type of property they were interested in or see if they can now afford something larger. Buying when prices have recently crashed could mean they make a bumper profit when valuations start to recover.<\/p>\n

History shows that property prices generally recover over time. Of course, the difficulty is knowing if the market has reached the bottom or how long it could be until prices start to rise.<\/p>\n

History of Housing Market Crashes<\/span><\/h2>\n

There have been a number of housing market crashes over the years, according to an analysis by Purplebricks<\/a>, the online estate agency.<\/p>\n

The most recent was during the 2008 financial crisis<\/a>, when a collapsing US housing market and reckless lending triggered a global meltdown.<\/p>\n

However, there were also housing market crashes during the early 1990s and the mid-1970s, as well as the 1950s and even back to the Great Depression of the 1920s. Purplebricks pointed out that such slumps are due to a variety of reasons, including economic downturns and policy changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese crashes can have far-reaching consequences, including job losses and widespread economic uncertainty,\u201d it stated.<\/p>\n

Causes of a Housing Market Crash<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are many issues that can play a role in a housing market downturn. All of them can adversely affect people\u2019s desire and ability to buy properties. Let\u2019s look at some of them.<\/p>\n

Economic Factors Contributing to a Housing Market Crash<\/h3>\n