Foreclosures Badly Affecting Building Industry
Monday, October 20th, 2008Foreclosures have been badly affecting the building industry. Many realtors in Washington have suffered huge losses. Some are now turning to the foreclosed market while many others have gone away.
The foreclosed houses have caused local builders to incur losses. Only 242 residential permits have been issued this year till September. Last year 521 housing permits had been sanctioned.
Mari Smith of Southern Utah Home Builders Association said that builders who are trying to sell the current batch of new houses are coming up with competition from the foreclosed units. In St. George there was a sharp increase in foreclosures according to a survey report released by First American CoreLogic.
Kent Frei has been operating as a realtor since the last 30 years. He has never seen such distress in the local housing market. He said, “We have gone through recessions before, but nothing like this. It is economic turmoil.” His firm has suffered a drop of 50% to 70% in business since the previous two years. This has forced many others to turn to other kinds of livelihood. He explained that from 15 full time agents his firm is now employing 5 agents. “They have either dropped their licenses or they are working in real estate part time,” he added. In order to keep running Frei and his remaining associates are now dealing primarily with foreclosed houses. These units are being sold at less the value than the loans tagged to it. Frei disclosed that a minimum of 75% of their dealings is with foreclosed houses. Only two years ago there were no such types of houses on their list. Potential buyers are interested in the foreclosed houses as the price is about 15% less than the market value. Frei further said that his takings in commissions are one third of the usual amount. However he is doing well in comparison to others connected with the industry. Frei apprehends that the trend will continue till the end of this decade.
Jeremy Larkin of Keller Williams Realty said soured mortgages comprise of 30% of his business volume. Nevertheless he is worried about the continued and increasing dominance of foreclosures in the market. Although his business is up he agrees that it does not mean that that work has not been hard. To make the best of the present mood of the market he is organizing guided conducted tour of the foreclosed houses on weekends. The goal is to get things moving.
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