Risk watchers have identified Orange County as the 8^th riskiest of the nation’s 50 largest markets for potential home-price declines in the next two years based on the mortgage insurer’s reading for 4^th quarter data.  Three months ago the risk watchers found Orange County to be in the same position.

They estimate that there’s a 99% chance of prices in O.C. continuing their decline which is up from the 98.3% chance estimated three months ago.  Out of the larger list of 381 metro U.S. markets for the 4^th quarter O.C ranked 34^th riskiest.

The risk watchers estimate that 98% of U.S. metro areas face increased risk of lower home prices at year end 2010.