Leverage and House-Price Dynamics in U.S. Cities

40 Pages Posted: 26 Jul 2000 Last revised: 17 Apr 2022

See all articles by Owen A. Lamont

Owen A. Lamont

Harvard University - Department of Economics

Jeremy C. Stein

Harvard University - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Multiple version iconThere are 3 versions of this paper

Date Written: March 1997

Abstract

In this paper, we use city-level data to analyze the relationship between homeowner borrowing patterns and house-price dynamics. Our principal finding is that in cities where homeowners are more leveraged--i.e., have higher loan-to-value ratios--house prices react more sensitively to city-specific shocks, such as changes in per-capita income. This finding is consistent with recent theories which emphasize the role of collateralized borrowing in shaping the behavior of asset prices.

Suggested Citation

Lamont, Owen A. and Stein, Jeremy C., Leverage and House-Price Dynamics in U.S. Cities (March 1997). NBER Working Paper No. w5961, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=225741

Owen A. Lamont (Contact Author)

Harvard University - Department of Economics ( email )

Littauer Center
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Jeremy C. Stein

Harvard University - Department of Economics ( email )

Littauer Center
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
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617-496-7352 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://post.economics.harvard.edu/faculty/stein/stein.html

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