How can regional differences in the risk-of-foreclosure be explained? : Evidence from Swedish single family housing markets

• In Sweden, quite large differences in the risk-of-foreclosure for single-family housing exist between regions. The aim of this paper is to explain such differences, using data on foreclosures for all Swedish regions. In an option-based model, the risk-of-foreclosure is a function of such things as housing prices and incomes, as well as interest rate and housing price volatility. Instead of using housing prices and incomes to explain the risk of foreclosure, we use explaining variables in the labor market model. The main results indicate that the option-based model explains the variation in foreclosure rates. Specifically, interest rate - together with price volatility, price changes, price and rent level, income, and employment - explains around one-third of the total regional variation. Our extended option-based model explains slightly more. Specialization within the industrial sector seems to have a positive effect on foreclosure risk in that it, together with the educational level of the workforce, reduces the risk. Specifically, mortgage lenders and banks can reduce their risk by concentrating their business on dense regions with a high degree of employment within the manufacturing industry and with a higher educational level of the workforce.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Default

Foreclosure risk

Housing market

Spatial distribution

housing finance

interest rate

labor market

price dynamics

Eurasia

Europe

Northern Europe

Scandinavia

Sweden

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)