Housing Market News
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
A Homebuyer on a $3K Budget Has Gained $22K in Purchasing Power Since June As Rates Drop to Lowest Level in 11 Months
Purchasing power has increased $7,500 in the last week alone, with rates falling to 6.3% on a weak August jobs report. The daily average mortgage
U.S. Homeowner Population Stops Growing for First Time in Nearly a Decade
The number of homeowner households fell 0.1% year over year in the second quarter—a small decline, but the first since 2016. Meanwhile, the number of
U.S. Housing Costs to Return to ‘Normal’ by 2030 With Stable Price Growth and Moderately Lower Rates
This year, the U.S. housing market has been described as “a nightmare,” “very unusual” and “alarming,” along with expletives we can’t write here. And with
Homebuyers Have Been Retreating. Now Sellers Are Too.
There are an estimated 1.43 million homebuyers in the U.S. housing market—the lowest level in records dating back to 2013 aside from the start of
The Mortgage Spread Has Dropped to a 3-Year Low. That’s Good News For Homebuyers and Refinancers.
The difference between mortgage rates and the 10-year treasury yield has narrowed, signaling a potential boost for homebuyers. A decrease in the mortgage spread can
Avocado Toast No More: Struggling Young Renters Forego Restaurants, Skip Meals to Afford Rent
But there are bright spots emerging on the affordability horizon, which could make it easier for young Americans to afford housing in the near future.