Housing Market News
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
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