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Analysis of the Mortgage Crisis and International Impact. Presentation to IPED Ira G. Peppercorn President Ira Peppercorn International, LLC. 2008 Real Estate Update: Affordable Housing in Today’s Market December 10–12 San Juan, Puerto Rico Sponsored by
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Analysis of the Mortgage Crisis and International Impact Presentation to IPED Ira G. Peppercorn President Ira Peppercorn International, LLC 2008 Real Estate Update: Affordable Housing in Today’s Market December 10–12 San Juan, Puerto Rico Sponsored by Reznick Group, Nixon Peabody LLP and IPED, Inc.
What Caused the Crisis? • Competing Theories of Blame: • Homeowners, Investment Banks, Government, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lenders • Conservative commentators argue that it was because people received mortgage loans that were not qualified. • Blames Clinton era policies for increasing homeownership • Reality is far more complicated and indicative of a system wide failure.
Overview • Myth of the Cause of the Crisis • The Key Causal Factors in a Fragmented System • How it has Affected Mortgage Markets Internationally • Practical Solutions to Ensure Accountability, Fairness and Coordination
90’s Policies to Increase Homeownership Amongst Non-Traditional Groups • African-American, Latino, Immigrant significantly lagged Caucasian rates • 1995: 43% African Americans; 44% Latinos; 71% Caucasians • Governmental Policy Objectives to Increase • Fannie/Freddie saw traditional market flat and non-traditional as growth sector
Homeownership Rate Growth • Overall Rate: 64% in 1995; 69% in 2005 • Caucasian Growth: 71% 1995; 75% 2005 • Minority Growth: 44% 1995; 51% 2005
Minority Groups Disproportionately Affected • Historically, Affordable Mortgages Better Payment Histories than Low-Documentation Mortgages • NYT: Neighborhoods with Large Poor and Minority Populations Experienced Sharp Rise in Defaults • Chicago: Areas where non-White over 80% Accounts for 65% of Foreclosure Cases • Same Trends Documented in Atlanta, Cleveland, Philadelphia and other Cities
European Mortgage Markets • 2007 Growth: 7.4%; 2006: 11.2% Lower In 2008 • Only 7 Countries In Europe Experienced Growth; 4 In Eastern Europe • Housing Supply Fell Significantly In Several EU Countries, Except Eastern Europe
European Housing Starts • 2003: 600,000 • 2004: 650,000 • 2005: 1,100,000 • 2006: 1,200,000 • 2007: 550,000
United Kingdom: Significant Decline • Average House Price Is £158,872, 14.6% Decrease In One Year From £186,044. • April To July 2008, Transaction Volumes Averaged 57,887 Transactions Per Month. 48% Decrease In One Year When Sales Volumes Averaged 110,828 • Gross Lending Year To Date: £211bn Compared To £276bn In The Same Period Last Year, A 24% Fall • 34,000 House Purchase Approvals In September Down From 97,000 In One Year; A 65% Fall
Netherlands: Challenged but More Stable • Rising interest rates from fall 2005 • Consumer confidence has fallen from summer 2007 • Decline in housing transactions from summer 2006 • Growing supply of houses • Housing prices relative stable2008: +1½% and 2009: +1% (regional differences)
Eastern Europe: Costs Increasing and Lending Tightening • Increase In Interest Rates For Mortgages Due To Scarcity Of Money (Between 12%-24% For Local Currencies). • Serbia, Moldova, Romania: Large Inflow Of Remittances Helped The Mortgage Markets. Likely To Decrease • Tightening Of The Prudential Requirements By The Central Banks In Eastern Europe Regarding Mortgage Lending • New Legislative Initiative To Regulate The Primary Mortgage Markets • New Attitude Of The Markets Regarding Securitizations. No Immediate Prospects For Such Transactions
Causes of the Crisis • Fragmented Regulatory System • Development of New Financial Products • Growth of the Non-Regulated Sector • Desperation, Fear and Opportunism • Treatment of Minority Borrowers • Desire of GSEs not to Lose Market Share • Lack of Accountability • No Early Warming System
Federal Housing Administration (FHA): Mortgage Insurance FHA Mission Oversight of Fannie/Freddie Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight Mortgagee Review Board Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Federal Reserve Federal Housing Finance Board State and Local Regulators Causes of the Crisis: Fragmented Regulatory System
Causes of the Crisis: New Financial Products • Products • 80/20 First and Second Mortgage • High LTV, Sometimes over 100% • Interest Only • Low and No Documentation Mortgages (Self-certified) • Implications • Interest rate shock from adjustment • High debt to income ratios • Vulnerability to financial or economic downturn • No “skin in the game”
Causes of the Crisis: Desperation, Fear and Opportunism • Housing prices in Major Cities Doubling and more from 1998 to 2005 • Fear of Being Closed Out of the Market • Desperation to Use New Mortgage Products to Afford a Mortgage • Investor Opportunism to Take Advantage of Rising Prices
Growth of the Non-Regulated Sector • FHA Market Share Drops from 14% in 1999 to 4% in 2007 • Regulation Cause Move to Non-Regulated Sector • Example: Appraisal Reform • 40% of No/Low Documentation Say They Did Not Believe They Could Qualify for a Mortgage • Fannie/Freddie Buying Mortgage and Bonds Not to Lose Market Share
Causes of the Crisis: Minorities and Sub-Prime Mortgages • 1999 To 2006: Sub-prime Loans By Minorities Grew From 15% To 27% • Non-Traditional Market Sector Twice As Likely To Have Taken Out Sub-prime • Disparity Exists Even with Similar Incomes • $51K to $75K 23% Minority 10% Caucasian • Interest Rates 3% Higher Than Prime, More Likely To Be Adjustable And Have High Fees And Prepayment Penalties
Causes of the Crisis: System Wide Accountability • Realtors • Mortgage Brokers • Appraisers • Lenders • Servicers • Rating Agencies • Investment Banks • Second Mortgage Originators and Lenders • Mortgage Purchasers and Packagers
Causes of the Crisis: No Early Warning System • Foreclosure Crisis Known in Key Areas Two Years Ago • No System-wide Mechanism for Emerging Patterns • Few Ways of Identifying and Disciplining Cause of Problems • No System for Planning for Impact on Communities
Solutions • Responsible Mortgage Lending • Coordinated Regulatory System • Consumer Education • Unified, Accurate Appraisal System • Accountability from Responsible Parties • Careful Analysis • Early Warning System • Planning for Financial Crises
Solutions: Responsible Mortgage Lending • Clear Underwriting Standards • Income Verification and Documentation • Reasonable Debt to Income Ratios • Sensitivity Analysis Performed on Adjustable Mortgages
Solutions: Coordinated Regulatory System • Mission and Financial Oversight Should be Coordinated • Safety and Soundness Should be Stress Tested • Consumer Education and Protection Critical • Mortgages Outside of Regulated System Should be Monitored
Solutions: Appraisal System • Appraisers Should be Trained and Certified • Analysis Should be Performed on the Basis of Closed Loans, not Open or Listed Sales • Appraisals Should be Subject to Monitoring
Solutions: Accountability • Investors Should “Trust but Verify” • Mortgage Analysis and Investment Paper Analysis Should be Clear and Transparent • Legal Violations Investigated Quickly and Effectively • Ensure a Share of the Risk of the Key Players
Solutions: Early Warning System • Database to Report and Analyze Patterns of Delinquency, Default and Foreclosure • Servicers and Lenders Should Establish Strong Foreclosure Prevention Systems • Communities Should Plan for Large Influx of Real Estate Owned Properties
Conclusion • “Sub-Prime” a Misleading Definition of the Crisis • Causal Factors Complex, but Low-Documentation Mortgages, Fragmented Oversight, and a Lack of Accountability Strong Factors • Solutions Include Strong Underwriting Standards, Coordinated Regulation, and a “Trust but Verify” Ethic
Thank You For More Information: IraPeppercorn@IraPeppercorn.Com IraPeppercornInternational@Yahoo.com