Housing Market News
Affordability
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.
The Typical Homebuyer’s Down Payment Is $56,000, Up 24% From a Year Ago
Over one-third of home purchases in February were made in all cash—not far from the record high. The median down payment for U.S. homebuyers was
First-Time Buyers Must Make $76,000 to Afford the Typical U.S. Starter Home–Up 8% From a Year Ago
Buyers must earn nearly twice as much as before the pandemic to afford the typical starter home, due to the one-two punch of high prices
The Typical Household Earns Roughly $30,000 Less Than Needed to Afford the Median-Priced Home—But That’s an Improvement From Last Year
Buyers need to earn $114,000 to afford the typical U.S. home—35% more than the typical household makes. But that’s an improvement from October, when buyers
Redfin Home Price Index: Prices Rose 0.6% in February, Marking Return to Pre-Pandemic Norm
While mortgage rates remain elevated, they’re not as volatile as they were at the height of the pandemic, which has helped stabilize home price growth.
Majority of U.S. Homeowners and Renters Say Housing Affordability Affects Their Pick for President
Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of respondents to a new Redfin survey say housing affordability makes them feel negative about the economy. More than half (53.2%) of
The U.S. Housing Market Gained $2 Trillion in Value Over the Last Year
The total value of U.S. homes jumped 5%, the biggest gain in nearly a year, as a shortage of houses for sale propped up values.
