Fair Value Accounting on the Housing Crisis

Abstract

The circumstances which led to the development of each of these methods of accounting will be examined to better understand the context in which each technique was to be incorporated and its effect. Analysis will be performed on whether the use of these accounting practices changed since their inception and if so, for what purpose. The researcher will discuss how and if these accounting procedures become instrumental in relation to the valuation of housing assets, particularly in America. As a result of the financial crisis, some experts have expressed the opinion that Fair Value Accounting as opposed to the historical cost approach exacerbated the housing crisis while others have developed opinions that Fair Value Accounting had no negative affect on the crisis and in fact allowed for greater transparency in disclosure. The finding will analyze the effect of Fair Value Accounting on the housing crisis and whether the historical cost valuation method would be more effective and less subject to risk in home asset valuation by bank holding companies. Research findings will determine which method is most effective and whether an alternate model of valuation would provide a more reliable accounting practice for the housing market.