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FEATURE ANALYTICS proving around the country and consumers face many choices," Lee added. "Consumers should seek out a real estate professional who can help them make the best choices to suit their needs." Fannie Mae's June edi- said they felt it is "more impor- tant than ever" to work with qualified real estate agents to close a home purchase or sale. "Real estate markets are im- tion of the National Housing Survey seemed to concur with Brookfield's findings, and analysis from the government- sponsored enterprise (GSE) showed that the average amount of anticipated home price ap- preciation rose to 2 percent. Fannie's evaluation of consum- ers' expectations regarding home value performance represents a 0.6 percent increase month-to- month, and the figure stands as the highest recorded value since the survey began in 2010. Thirty-five percent of those Of the respondents, 74 percent stay the same over the next 12 months, showing a decrease of 4 percentage points, and the number of those who expect their situation to get better leveled off at 43 percent. Additionally, there was a slight increase among those fearing personal declines, with 13 percent stating they expect their situation to worsen. Finally, the survey found that household expenses remained stable, with 55 percent reporting that expenses stayed about the same as they were one year prior. Fannie's study showed a 4 percent drop in the number of households reporting a higher income year-over-year, with that figure hitting 18 percent, while the percentage reporting a lower income remained flat at 15 percent. "While consumers remain responding to the GSE's study called for an uptick in home prices for the year ahead, which is also the highest level recorded since the survey's inception. Another 37 percent of participants said they think mortgage rates will go up in the next 12 months, displaying a drop of 4 percentage points from the previous month. That statistic, in particular, cautious about the general economy, their attitudes toward the housing market continue to improve," said Doug Duncan, SVP and chief economist for Fannie. "Although this positive appears to be based in reality; because according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey, rates steadily fell through much of the year's second quar- ter to achieve new lows week after week. In other words, rates have nowhere to go but up. On the Up and Up I t is, of course, the current unique combination of low rates and low home prices that seems to be spurring greater confidence in the housing market. The number of Fannie's respondents noting that it's a good time to buy a home rose slightly to 73 percent, while the percentage who said it is a good time to sell remained flat at 15 percent. Sixty-nine percent said they would buy if they were going to move, demonstrating an increase of 6 percent from May's study and clocking in at the highest level on record since the survey was initiated. confidence took a hit in June, with only 36 percent of participants saying they believe the economy is on the right track. Though June's percentage represents only a small drop-off of numbers seen in April and May, consumer sentiment on the topic does indicate an informed approach versus wishful thinking. Forty-two percent of Meanwhile, general economic respondents said they expect their financial situation to trend may be short-lived if the general economy falters, one might ask whether consumers are increasingly seeing the current environment as a unique opportunity to buy a home while home prices remain depressed, rental costs are increasing, and interest rates are near historic lows," he added. For housing finance experts like Duncan, the sustainability of current consumer attitudes is paramount when forecasting the future of the nation's real estate and mortgage markets. But no matter the ultimate longevity of the trend, there is one certainty: Correcting borrowers' areas of ignorance and translating their confidence into informed, appropriate housing decisions will guarantee success. THE M REPORT | 65 ORIGINATION SERVICING ANALYTICS SECONDARY MARKET