Housing Market News
Affordability
Homebuyers Must Earn Nearly $80,000 to Afford the Typical U.S. Starter Home, Just Shy of the All-Time High
Homebuyers need to earn roughly $80,000 to afford the median-priced starter home, up 4.4% from last summer and only about $500 below the all-time high.
The Typical Homebuyer’s Down Payment is a Record $67,500, Up 15% From a Year Ago
The typical homebuyer put down 18.6% of the purchase price, up from 15% a year ago. Nearly 3 in 5 homebuyers put down more than
6 of Every 7 People With Mortgages Have an Interest Rate Below 6%, But the Lock-In Effect Is Starting to Ease
The mortgage rate lock-in effect is prompting many homeowners to stay put, contributing to America’s housing shortage. But the lock-in effect is slowly easing because
Starter Homes Emerge as Bright Spot as Mortgage Rates Settle Near 15-Month Low
Pending starter home sales grew 10% in July year over year, while other price brackets fell. The median price for a U.S. starter home climbed
Condo HOA Fees Surge in Florida Amid Insurance Crisis
HOA dues are up more than 15% from a year ago in Tampa, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, compared with a median gain of 6% across
U.S. Home Prices Tick Up 0.2% for the Second Month in a Row
Home prices grew 0.2% in July, equal to the slowest pace since January 2023. Twenty of the 50 most populous U.S. metros recorded a drop
Homebuyer Interest in Rural Areas Rises, With Prices Up 11% in July
There’s more demand—and less supply—for rural and suburban neighborhoods than cities as the pandemic influences homebuyer preferences. Still, prices are up 6.7% in urban areas.
Homeownership Hits Highest Level Since 2008 Driven by Younger, First-Time Buyers
Many renters who were planning a purchase in the next few years, have opted to go ahead and buy now given historically low rates.
Prices of Affordable Homes Have Jumped 5.5% During the Pandemic
Prices of the most affordable third of homes in the U.S. climbed 5.5% year over year during the 12 weeks ending May 31, while prices of the most expensive third of homes increased just 2%.
Shortfall in New Supply of Homes for Sale Felt Most Acutely at the High End
Between mid-March and mid-April, the new supply of homes for sale over $1 million fell 29 points from the year prior.
Homebuyers Confront Credit Crunch as Coronavirus Puts Lenders on Edge
As the coronavirus pandemic sends shockwaves through the U.S. economy, banks are fighting financial uncertainty with stricter mortgage lending requirements, making it harder for house hunters to get their hands on home loans.
Stimulus Checks and Housing: How Far $1,200 Goes for Homeowners and Renters Across the US
More than three-quarters of US renters could pay one month’s worth of housing expenses with $1,200, compared with nearly half of homeowners.
