How Do Rapidly Rising Mortgage Rates Impact Affordability?

By Mark Fleming on April 22, 2022
In February 2022, the Real House Price Index (RHPI) jumped up by nearly 31 percent. That’s the fastest growth in the more than 30-year history of the series. This rapid annual decline in affordability was driven by two factors: a 21.7 percent annual increase in nominal house prices and a nearly full percentage point increase in the 30-year, fixed ... Read More

Interest Rates Real House Price Index Affordability

Is Affordability Worse Than the 2006 Housing Boom Peak?

By Mark Fleming on March 29, 2022
In the first report with 2022 data, the Real House Price Index (RHPI) jumped up by nearly 27 percent, the fastest growth in the RHPI since 2004. This rapid annual decline in affordability was driven by a 21.7 percent annual increase in nominal house prices and a 0.7 percentage point increase in the 30-year, fixed mortgage rate compared with one ... Read More

Interest Rates Real House Price Index Affordability

Will Rising Rates Bring Balance to the Housing Market?

By Mark Fleming on February 23, 2022
In December 2021, the Real House Price Index (RHPI) increased 21.7 percent compared with December 2020, the highest annual growth rate since 2014. The record increase was driven by rising mortgage rates and rapid nominal house price appreciation, which make up two of the three drivers of the RHPI. The 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage and the ... Read More

Interest Rates Real House Price Index Affordability

How Will Rising Mortgage Rates Impact Spring Home-Buying?

By Mark Fleming on January 24, 2022
In November, year-over-year nominal house price appreciation reached 21.5 percent, the sixth consecutive month it has set a new record. According to our Real House Price Index (RHPI) - which measures housing affordability based on changes in income, interest rates and nominal house prices - affordability declined 21.0 percent compared with a year ... Read More

Interest Rates Real House Price Index Affordability

Affordability Falls to its Lowest Level Since 2008

By Mark Fleming on December 27, 2021
Affordability sank to its lowest level since 2008 in October, as two of the three key drivers of the Real House Price Index (RHPI) swung in favor of reduced affordability relative to one year ago. Higher mortgage rates and record year-over-year nominal house price growth triggered a nearly 20 percent jump in the RHPI (rising RHPI values indicate ... Read More

Interest Rates Real House Price Index Affordability

Why House Prices Still Have Room to Run

By Mark Fleming on November 30, 2021
According to the Real House Price Index (RHPI), which measures housing affordability in the context of changes in consumer house-buying power, affordability in September declined to its lowest level since 2008. Two of the three components of consumer house-buying power swung toward declining affordability. Record nominal house price growth and ... Read More

Interest Rates Real House Price Index Affordability