Despite What Clint Says, It's Not Halftime for Detroit Housing

NEW YORK (MainStreet) -- Data show one key U.S. region is losing ground fast on the housing front, and it's threatening to drag the rest of the nation's home values down with it.

The Midwest and its worst performer for the fourth quarter -- Detroit -- have been the subject of much scrutiny this week over a controversial Super Bowl commercial featuring film icon Clint Eastwood.

A Super Bowl commercial featuring film icon Clint Eastwood suggested it was halftime in America's fight with a bad economy. But Detroit looks to be losing.

Depending on your point of view, the commercial either was an uplifting reminder of America's resilience or a cheap political ad for politicians who might benefit from Detroit's perceived economic recovery (see: the current administration). As the debate chugs along, one point is clear: Detroit's housing story is neither one of shiny resilience nor a story any self-respecting politician would want to take with him or her on the campaign trail.

The numbers come from the Truckee, Calif.-based real estate analytics firm Clear Capital. The company's fourth-quarter U.S. real estate market analysis takes a snapshot of the health of the nation's housing sector with data covering up to the end of January. Here are some highlights:

• Year-over-year home prices for the U.S. overall lost 2.6% through January.
• Quarter-over-quarter home prices for the U.S. declined 1.6%.
• The Midwest lost its momentum and led the nation in quarterly losses.
• The remaining regions had little change quarter over quarter and year over year.

Clear Capital notes that the housing market may actually be bottoming out, but could fall right through the floor to see new losses if certain economic issues don't go the housing market's way.