Financial Edge - 5 Factors To Watch In A Housing Recovery

I apologize for not posting this in a more timely manner. It has been up for a week or so... 

Can the American economy be healthy without a healthy housing market? That is more than just an idle conversation-starter these days. People are tied to housing in many ways; it is often the largest single investment, expense and debt that a person will ever undertake. (Ready to take the plunge? Check out Top Tips For First-Time Home Buyers.)


Given what a powerful force housing was in the economy before the bubble popped, it seems fair to assume it will continue to be significant. Even if people cannot leverage their houses into consumer spending as they used to, the health of housing affects family balance sheets, which in turn impacts small business creation, personal consumption, investment and overall economic activity. After all, what difference does it make if there are ample jobs in North Carolina if you are stuck in underwater mortgage in California and cannot afford to move? (For more on getting out from an underwater mortgage, read Selling Your Home For Less Than The Loan.)

Here, then, are five key factors to watch in anticipation of an eventual housing recovery.

For the full column, please continue to: 
http://financialedge.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0710/5-Factors-To-Watch-In-A-Housing-Recovery.aspx