Distressed Homebuyers Return to US Market

It’s been nearly a decade since the beginning of the American foreclosure crisis, and a new study from the National Association of Realtors shows many previously distressed homeowners are returning to the market to buy once again.

The study examined more than 9 million homeowners that experienced a foreclosure, short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure between 2006 and 2014. The research found that of those 9 million owners, nearly a million of them have likely already purchased another home. 1.5 million more are likely to become eligible to purchase again within the next five years as their credit improves to pre-recession levels. Experts point out these folks have likely continued to pay utility and rent bills in the years since the recession, which has helped contribute to rebuilding their credit.

New credit measurement models like Vantage Score 3.0 and FICO 9 may help some of these would-be buyers expedite the process by showing lenders they’re desirable candidates despite negative credit conditions in the past.

However, there are still millions more that won’t be eligible to buy again for at least five years. This is due to negative items remaining on their credit report and compounding factors like not meeting new, more stringent underwriting standards.

Florida, Arizona and California are the states with the largest number of previously distressed buyers returning to the market, the study showed.