In the residential real estate market, foreclosure activity continues to be a major drag though it decreased in May relative to April. Last year a record 3.1 million filings were made. RealtyTrac predicts this year  a total of 4 million foreclosures.Businessweek predicts the housing market to recover sometime in 2012.

The Commercial  Real Estate (CRE) market is also continuing to deteriorate. As companies go bankrupt additional CRE space would flood the market. A few firms such as Circuit City, Linens ‘N Things and mall operator General Growth Properties have filed for bankruptcy. While some are predicting a big crash in the CRE market I think it is unlikely to cause a severe economic strain like the one caused by the collapse in the residential market. This is because  CRE is not as large as the residential market as shown in the graph below.

Composition of Total Mortgages Outstanding in the U.S.:

Source:  L.217 Total Mortgages, Flow of Funds Accounts of the United States report, 1Q-2009

Residential real estate accounts for the largest amount of mortgages outstanding. From $6.2 Trillion in 2002, it has risen to $11.9T (annualized rate)  in first quarter 2009. CRE  accounts for 2.5T in 1Q, 2009. To put these numbers in perspective, the U.S. GDP is about $14.3 T.  The residential mortgage amounts outstanding increased year-over-year till the housing boom ended in 2007. Farm forms a minor portion of the total real estate market. In 1Q, 2009 farm mortgages outstanding accounted for only $111B at an annualized rate.The total mortgage amounts owed exceeds the total GDP of the country.