WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 19, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The majority of those surveyed would squat in a vacant home if things got so bad economically they were forced to do so, according to a new Housing Predictor opinion poll.
The online survey found that 55% said they would become squatters legally or illegally, while 45% said they would not.
Economic turmoil, rising unemployment and declining home prices in the majority of the U.S. is troubling consumers. More than 14 million Americans are unemployed sending consumer confidence weaker. The U.S. Census Department says 18.4-million homes are vacant in the country, and that figure is expected to rise with growing foreclosures in coming months.
Millions of homeowners and renters have been evicted from residential properties as a result of the foreclosure crisis. More than 2.2 million mortgage holders are in default of home loans, leading the majority to say they would legally or illegally squat in a vacant home.
Housing Predictor regularly surveys visitors to its website on important issues related to real estate to get a pulse on how consumers feel and tracks more than 230 local housing markets in all 50 U.S. states, forecasts markets across the country and keeps visitors up to date on real estate news and mortgage interest rates.
