CU Members Mortgage Gives CUs Info on Housing Bubble "Myth"

FORT WORTH, Texas – With so much talk in the media about the so-called housing bubble, the chances of consumers being misinformed or misinterpreting information increases. That’s why CU Members Mortgage has provided more than 500 credit unions with copies of an article they can post online on their Web site or include in newsletters to help allay members’ concerns that the housing market is weakening and real estate is a too risky investment. The article, “So What’s all this Talk about a Housing Bubble?” is edited by a New York University professor of economics and quotes a recent study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York that concludes no bubble exists. The study’s authors Jonathan McCarthy, senior economist and Richard Peach, VP at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York conclude that while “the strong rise in home prices since the mid-1990s has raised concerns over a possible bubble in the housing market and the effect of a sharp price decline on the U.S. economy,” no bubble in fact exists. The authors present evidence they argue demonstrates that “the marked rise in home prices is largely attributable to strong market fundamentals: Home prices have essentially moved in line with increases in family income and declines in nominal mortgage interest rates.” CU Members Mortgage VP Linda Clampitt said, “It’s important for members to feel confident that a home is a solid investment.”