How to Determine If You Can Afford to Buy a Home
How to Determine If You Can Afford to Buy a Home
![]() The gap between the increase in personal income and residential real estate prices has been used to defend the concept that we are experiencing an affordability crisis in housing today. It is true that home prices and wages are two key elements in any affordability equation. There is, however, an extremely important third component to that equation: mortgage interest rates. Mortgage interest rates have fallen by more than a full percentage point from this time last year. Today’s rate is 3.75%; it was 4.86% at this time last year. This has dramatically increased a purchaser’s ability to afford a home. Here are three reports validating that purchasing a home is in fact more affordable today than it was a year ago: CoreLogic’s Typical Mortgage Payment
The National Association of Realtors’ Affordability Index
First American’s Real House Price Index (RHPI)
Bottom LineThough the price of homes may still be rising, the cost of purchasing a home is actually falling. If you’re thinking of buying your first home or moving up to your dream home, let’s connect so you can better understand the difference between the two. |
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