Affordability Improves for Fifth Straight Month, Offering a Glimmer of Hope for the Housing Market
By
Mark Fleming on October 1, 2025
Key Points: Housing affordability improved 2.3 percent year over year in July, marking the fifth consecutive month with an annual gain. Affordability improved in 39 of the top 50 markets, with the strongest gains in markets where active inventory increased the most. Affordability may improve further this year, but gains will likely be modest. ...
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Why Can’t Existing-Home Sales Break Out of their Slump?
By
Odeta Kushi on September 24, 2025
Key Points: Existing-home sales remain well below historical data would suggest for a market of today’s size. Active listings are still 22 percent lower than the 2015–2019 average, and the annual pace of improvement is slowing. Lower mortgage rates and improved affordability should encourage some buyers and discouraged sellers to re-enter the ...
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Affordability's Slow Comeback
By
Mark Fleming on August 29, 2025
Key Points: National housing affordability rose 3.1 percent year over year in June, marking the fifth consecutive month with an annual gain. Prices are decelerating or declining in many markets, boosting affordability, though pandemic-era equity gains remain largely intact. Affordability will likely improve slowly as income growth outpaces house ...
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Where New Listings Grow, Sales Flow
By
Odeta Kushi on August 20, 2025
Key Points: National sales remain weak despite rising inventory, highlighting the importance of distinguishing between active listings and new listings. Across the top 75 markets, sales are strongly correlated with the flow of new listings. The outlook for new listings growth—and thus sales—will hinge on the tension between the mortgage rate ...
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Mapping the Landscape of Affordability: Why Where You Live Shapes What You Pay
By
Sam Williamson on August 13, 2025
Key Points: Affordability depends heavily on location. Regional differences in prices, taxes, and utility costs lead to wide disparities in how much of one’s income is spent on housing. High home prices—particularly in Western markets—drive up mortgage and tax costs, leading to some of the highest cost burden rates in the country. High income ...
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Housing Market Turning Point: Setting the Stage for a New Real Estate Cycle
By
Odeta Kushi on August 8, 2025
Key Points: Affordability is likely to improve by year end, but will remain historically constrained. Higher inventory levels in Southern and Western markets will put more downward pressure on prices, moving these markets towards more buyer-friendly conditions. Existing-home sales will be driven by “life happens” events, but will remain limited by ...
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