Top 10 Predictions for Residential Real Estate

DENVER, Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As the country shakes off the effects of the worst economic recession in recent history, the residential real estate market is beginning to rebound, and Dave Liniger, Chairman and Co-Founder of the leading real estate franchise RE/MAX, sees several positive factors that could take hold in 2012.

"Interest rates will remain at or near historic lows and home prices will stabilize and start to rise by the end of the year," said Liniger. "There's no question, the housing recovery will be slow and steady, but for many cities the turn-around is already happening."  

With interest rates lower than most people have ever seen, and prices lower than they've been in years, the current marketplace has created a unique environment that may not be repeated for decades.  

"Informed and savvy consumers and investors recognize there's great opportunity in this market and they are leading the way to recovery," Liniger added. 

Dave Liniger's Top 10 Real Estate Predictions for 2012 are:

1. Continued low interest rates
2. Home prices stabilizing and starting to rise
3. Increasing numbers of home sales
4. Rising inventories, mostly due to increased foreclosures
5. Distressed properties will make up about half of all sales
6. An improved Short Sale process to help avoid foreclosure
7. Homeownership rates continue to fall
8. Foreign and domestic investors will buy 25% of homes
9. Increasing reliance on real estate agents
10. Increased use of Mobile and Social technologies

Watch Dave Liniger's 2012 Forecast Video to see more detail on his predictions and to hear him speak about several factors that could help speed-up a housing recovery. 

Dave Liniger co-founded the RE/MAX organization in 1973 and has been working in real estate for over 40 years.  Recently, he has dedicated his efforts to promoting solutions to the housing crisis and working to place the housing industry on the road to a sustainable recovery. 

Specifically, Liniger is a strong advocate of foreclosure alternatives like Short Sales and he has been advising Washington policymakers and national lenders regarding a streamlined Short Sale process that would help American families avoid the traumatic foreclosure process, and other critical housing issues.

For information please visit www.remax.com  or  www.joinremax.com.

About the RE/MAX Network:

RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail Liniger, real estate industry visionaries who still lead the Denver-based global franchisor today. RE/MAX is recognized as one of the leading real estate franchise companies with the most productive sales force in the industry and a global reach of more than 80 countries. With a passion for the communities in which its agents live and work, RE/MAX is proud to have raised more than $100 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and other charities. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX.  For more information about RE/MAX, please visit www.remax.com or www.joinremax.com

SOURCE RE/MAX