In December, only 15 percent projected a new post-crash low would materialize for home prices. We are now less than 1 percent away from that mark, according to the survey.
"Overall, the sentiment among our expert panel regarding the U.S. housing market outlook continues to deteriorate," writes Shiller. "Now they are expecting only a weak recovery, and even that is not until 2013."
This report comes on the same day that Fannie Mae's chief economist put out a report claiming uncertainty in Japan and trouble in Libya will directly affect housing's recovery, specifically citing rising gas prices.
"We expect home sales to remain soft in the near term, given uninspiring leading indicators," notes Doug Duncan. It's really uninspired and fearful consumers, though, that will stunt the recovery.
They're looking at the weakness in the economy, now battered by our relationship with Japan and a rise in oil prices, and they're asking, is this a good time to borrow $200,000 to buy a house? I don't think so," concludes Duncan.