By Mark Edwards
Today we wrap up our series on the Alaska Economic Update. Over the past three posts, we have looked at oil prices, jobs, and population. We wrap things up today with the housing marketing and the building environment. For the complete Alaska Economic Update as well as other important studies, visit our ‘Resources’ section.
Home lending activity flat - The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) released its third quarter report on Alaska housing indicators. It tracks new loan activity for single family homes and condominiums in Alaska. The data is based on a survey representing approximately 95% of mortgage lenders in Alaska and also includes AHFC loans. The survey covered mortgage lending activity in the first nine months of 2014.
It reported 6,889 loans were originated statewide for single family homes and condominiums for a total amount of $1.8 billion. This is nearly identical to the volume in the first 9 months of 2013. Loans were done with an average down payment of 11% for the last five years. Single family homes accounted for 87% of statewide mortgage lending activity with 52% of those loans occurring in Anchorage. The Mat-Su contributed 18% of the volume, 10% in Fairbanks, 8% in Kenai, 5% Juneau, 2% Kodiak, and 1% in Ketchikan.
10% of total mortgage activity for the quarter was for condominiums and only 3% was multi-family. 91% of condominiums were financed in Anchorage. Juneau accounted for 5%, and the Mat-Su, Kenai and Fairbanks 1%.
Refinance activity slowed rapidly in 2014, but may rise as interest rates are falling again - 30 year conventional fixed interest rate mortgage loans have been getting less expensive for three decades. In 1981 they peaked at 16.6% and have undergone a slow and steady decline ever since. In early 2009 rates dipped under 5% on average for the first time and a surge in refinance activity began.
According to AHFC statistics, there was less than $200 million in refinance loans completed per quarter in Alaska in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, the average rose to $400 million. Then in the first quarter of 2009 the activity spiked to $1.4 billion, followed by $1.2 billion in the second quarter. During this time, the average 30 year interest rate declined nearly 1.5% in six months.
The refinance pace slowed somewhat in the last half of 2009, but still finished the year with $3.7 billion in refinanced mortgage loans according to AHFC statistics. In 2010, the refinance volume declined to $2.4 billion, followed by $2.1 billion in 2011. 2012 saw an unexpected decrease in interest rates again to an all-time historic low of 3.3% by the end of the year. This led to an increase to $3.1 billion in refinance activity.
Rates increased throughout 2013 and you can see on the far right of the graph, the result has been a steep drop off in refinance activity. Rates began declining again last year and finished 2014 at 3.86% on average. AHFC data is only available through the third quarter of 2014 at this time, so we have not yet seen the year end results. Rates continued lower in February to 3.71%. This should be a positive trend for both home sales and refinance activity this year.
Housing statistics still good relative to the U.S. – The recently released survey by the Mortgage Bankers Association shows that Alaska continues to have some of the lowest levels of foreclosures and delinquencies on residential mortgage loans in the United States. Through the third quarter of 2014, Alaska ranked 5th and 7th best in the nation out of 50 states in foreclosures and delinquencies of all loan types.
The total inventory of foreclosures in process is 0.9% in Alaska, while the country has a much larger lingering foreclosure inventory at 2.4% due to higher rates during the recession and longer resolution times. These rates are an improvement from four years ago when Alaska’s rate was 1.4% and the U.S. foreclosure rate was 4.6%.
Delinquent loans are more than 30 days past due, but not yet in foreclosure. Alaska is fifth best behind North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Hawaii in the overall level of delinquent loans. Alaska’s delinquency rate is 3.6%, while the U.S. average is 6% for all loan types. This is an improvement for Alaska from 4.8% four years ago. The U.S. delinquency rate has also come down more dramatically from 9.4% at this time four years ago.
Subprime lending to traditionally non-qualified borrowers was a large contributing factor to the national mortgage problems. The survey covers 95,176 mortgages in Alaska. 6,110 or 6% were considered subprime, compared to 9% nationally. The rate of delinquencies and foreclosures on subprime loans is significantly higher. However, Alaska is in a far better position and again leads the nation as having the lowest level of foreclosures and is second in delinquencies for this important category. Subprime foreclosures in Alaska are at 2% while the national average is 9.8%. Alaska’s subprime delinquency rate is 9.4% compared to the national average of 19.3%.
Building permits up 430 units in 2014, but still historically low - According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of building permits for new, privately owned housing of 1 to 5 unit buildings remained low for the 8th straight year. It had been under 1,000 units since 2007, but in 2013 it grew 9% to 1,081. Last year saw a dramatic jump up to 1,509. However, this is still half the level seen 10 years ago.
Growth in single family homes increased from 877 to 1,114 last year. The number of duplexes permitted fell from 66 to 50. The number of structures with three or four living units decreased slightly from 49 to 45.
The other major growth area beyond single family homes was in multi-family. The number of structures with five or more units climbed from 10 in 2013 to 33 in 2014. In terms of housing units that meant a growth from 87 to 300 last year. The biggest challenge has been making new construction affordable enough to meet buyer’s income levels. There is a shortage of low cost housing in Anchorage. Vacancy factors are very low and the number of existing homes under $350,000 is in short supply. It appears builders have started to take more risk in this market segment, likely aided to some extent by government subsidy programs. Anchorage is expected to follow other growing cities by becoming denser, building vertical and redeveloping older properties.
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