Is Affordability Starting To Improve?
- August 13, 2024
- Categorias: Sunbelt Realty
Over the past couple of years, a lot of people have had a hard time If you’re thinking about buying a home, slower price growth is good news. Home prices went up a lot during the pandemic, making it hard for many people to buy. Now, with prices rising more slowly, buying a home may feel less out of reach. As Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist at First American, says:
“While housing affordability is low for potential first-time home buyers, slowing price appreciation and lower mortgage rates could help – so the dream of homeownership isn’t boarded up just yet.”
3. Wages
Another factor helping with affordability is rising wages. The graph below uses data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to show how wages have increased over time:
This helps you because if your income increases, it’s easier to afford a home. That’s because you won’t have to spend as much of your paycheck on your monthly mortgage payment.
Bottom Line
When you put all these factors together, you see mortgage rates are trending down, home prices are rising more slowly, and wages are going up faster than usual. Though affordability is still a challenge, these trends are early signs things might be starting to improve.