An article on MSNBC reported that home prices may rise in 2013, and the decline in home prices may come to an end for the very first time in seven years. The median forecast of 24 economists polled by Reuters was for the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index to end the year unchanged. House prices have so far fallen about 32 percent from their peak at the end of 2005, and an estimated 11 million Americans now owe more on their homes than they are worth. Mortgage rates are already near record lows and house affordability is the best in history. Experts said that this should help to lift home sales and this gradual healing is encouraging.
