Housing Market News
Affordability
All-Cash Home Purchases Ended 2025 at Five-Year Low
29% of homebuyers paid with cash in December—the lowest share for that month since 2020—as a drop in mortgage rates diminished the benefits of paying
Homebuyer Down Payments Shrink for First Time in 5 Months
The typical homebuyer’s down payment dropped 1.5% year over year in December to $64,000 as elevated housing costs and increased negotiating power drove buyers to
64% of Single Americans Struggle to Afford Housing, Compared With 39% of Married People
Nearly half of single Americans earn less than $50,000 per year, compared to just 9% of married couples, according to a recent Redfin survey. That
Homebuyers Need to Earn $35,000 More Than Renters to Afford Monthly Payments. That’s the Smallest Gap in 3 Years.
Homebuyers need to earn $111,000 annually to afford the median-priced home, compared with $76,000 for renters. The median household income is $86,000. While that’s a
Affordability Is Improving: Buyers Must Earn $111,000 to Afford the Typical Home, Down 4% From Last Year
Homebuying affordability is improving nationwide after nearly five years during which it generally worsened. That’s because mortgage rates are lower and home-price growth is muted.
Austin, TX—Once Among the Nation’s Hottest Housing Markets—Is Now the Slowest
The typical Austin home that went under contract in December spent a record 106 days on the market, compared with 60 days nationwide. A decade
The Suburbs of St. Louis Are the Most Affordable Place in the U.S. to Buy a Home
The Midwest and South are home to a majority of the country’s most affordable cities. A typical household in Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO, a St. Louis
Starter-Home Sales Climb 5%, But Prices Stay in Check as Inventory Hits 9-Year High
Starter-home sales rose 4.9% year over year, increasing for the 14th consecutive month. In comparison, sales of mid-priced homes inched up 0.7%, and high-priced home
15% of Home Purchases Fell Through in October, Up Slightly From a Year Earlier
Homebuyers are getting cold feet due to high housing costs and economic uncertainty. Many are convinced they’ll be able to find a home they like
Typical Retail Worker Earns $37,000 Less Than Needed to Afford Typical Apartment
The typical retail worker earns $34,000 per year, or 52% less than they would need to afford the typical apartment. Rental affordability has improved slightly
The Housing Affordability Crisis Is Accelerating Fastest in Rural America
Rural homebuyers need to earn $75,000 to afford the typical home, up from $36,000 before the pandemic. Suburban and urban areas have also seen affordability
It’s the Strongest Buyer’s Market in Records Dating Back Over a Decade
Home sellers outnumbered buyers by a record 36.8% in October, giving buyers who were in the market room to negotiate. The number of buyers in
