Sequestration could also hit the nation’s home builders, especially those with a large footprint around Washington, DC and Northern Virginia, like Toll Brothers, which reported a first quarter profit Wednesday, and NVR.
“Industry tailwinds look to be gaining steam, but we believe Toll has one very large impediment to cross: The sequester,” said housing analyst Stephen East at ISI Group. “With a large portion of its sales in the Mid-Atlantic area, the next few months order streams will be extremely important as the sequester knife is falling hard on well-paying defense industry jobs.”
Sequestration could even slow the improvement in the nation’s foreclosure rate. It would result in 75,000 fewer households receiving foreclosure prevention, pre-purchase, rental or other counseling through HUD grants, according to the government agency.
(Read More: The Inside Story of America’s Economic Crisis)
“This counseling is crucial for middle class and other families who have been harmed by the housing crisis from which we are still recovering, and are trying to prevent foreclosure, refinance their mortgages, avoid housing scams, and find quality, affordable housing,” said Secretary Donovan. “Studies show that housing counseling plays a crucial role in those two efforts. Distressed households who receive counseling are more likely to avoid foreclosure, while families who receive counseling before they purchase a home are less likely to become delinquent on their mortgages.”
—By CNBC’s Diana Olick; Follow her on Twitter @Diana_Olick or on Facebook at facebook.com/DianaOlickCNBC
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Article source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/100474955