Home-builder executives said at an industry conference Thursday that they're making progress clearing out excess inventory, but warned that a recession and spiking unemployment could stop that advance in its tracks.Yes, the homebuilders are finally building fewer homes than they are selling - so new home inventory is declining. But the huge overhang of existing homes on the market - especially distressed inventory - will keep housing under pressure for some time.
"No one who's unemployed ever bought a house," said Lawrence Angelilli, senior vice president of finance at Centex Corp. "That's the wild card that everybody is waiting to see is if we get a true economic recession."
Also, I think a few unemployed people did buy homes during the boom. NINJA loans were one of the big jokes: No Income, No Job, No Assets.