TRUCKEE, CA, Nov 05, 2009 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX News Network) --

Clear Capital (www.clearcapital.com), a premium provider of data and solutions for real estate asset valuation, investment and risk assessment, today released its Home Data Index(TM) (HDI) Market Report. Patent pending rolling quarter technology significantly reduces the multi-month lag time associated with other indices to help investors, loan servicers and individual buyers and sellers make more informed, timely and profitable decisions. This month's report features data compiled through Oct. 25, 2009.

Report highlights include:

-- National / Four Region Overview: The national quarterly price change extended its softening trend, posting a 3.7 percent gain, while the national year-over-year price decline was trimmed again, producing single digit losses for the second month in a row (-8.4%).

-- Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) drilldown: Quarterly price gains remained strong among the highest performing major markets, helped by the continued decline in the percentage of total sales that are real estate owned (REO).

-- Micro Market Analysis: Steep declines in the first half of this past year produced a -13.8 percent yearly price change for the Seattle MSA.

The Clear Capital HDI Market Report offers the industry, investors and lenders a near real-time look at pricing conditions not only at the national and metropolitan level, but within local markets. Clear Capital data is built on the most recent data available from recorder/assessor offices, and then further enhanced by adding the Company's proprietary market data for the most comprehensive geographic coverage available.

"Nationally, both the top and bottom performing markets are converging to modest quarterly changes, indicating a return to stable markets," said Alex Villacorta, Sr. Statistician, Clear Capital. "As we've seen since the spring season, many markets have returned to traditional seasonal fluctuations and the strong summer gains are showing signs of slowing."

"The continued decline in REO saturation rates, as well as an increase in the proportion of cash buyers in both distressed and fair market sales, are an encouraging sign of investor optimism coming into the traditionally slow months," added Villacorta. "If the home buyer tax credit is extended and possibly expanded, it could add even more momentum through the slow months to build up to a very strong spring in 2010 as more buyers are sensing that home prices truly have hit the bottom of the current cycle."

National/Four Region Market Overview (Sept. 26, 2008 - Oct. 25, 2009)

The national year-over-year price decline was trimmed another 1.5 percent from last month, producing single digit losses for the second month in a row (-8.4%). The national quarterly price change extended its softening trend, posting 3.7 percent gains -- down from the 6.3 percent gains experienced last month. This pattern held true across all four regions which continue to post more consistent price changes, a likely reflection of more uniform lending and foreclosure practices, along with a reduced influence of the REO segment. This month's national REO saturation rate declined to 28.0 percent -- a 5.1 percent improvement since July.

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