Mortgage Payments Unaffordable In Half of America's Largest Markets

Mortgage payments are unaffordable in many of the nation’s largest markets as low home inventory pushes prices higher leading more to continue renting, according to a new study.

"Homes have gotten so expensive in many major cities that even with low mortgage rates, monthly costs for homes that are currently for sale are starting to be unaffordable," Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell, said in a release.

 "Down payments are a top concern for today's homebuyers, but the reality is that monthly costs are becoming unaffordable as well. Low inventory is pushing sticker prices higher, and when mortgage rates start to rise, monthly payments will be driven further into unaffordable territory,” Gudell said.

Buying the typical home listed for sale in more than half of the nation's 35 largest markets will require a greater share of income than the median-valued home required historically, according to a new Zillow® analysisⁱ.

 Homes for sale in the six largest California metros have unaffordable mortgage payments, the study said.

• The median price of homes for sale is higher than the median home value of all homes in all but three of the largest 35 U.S. metros.
• Monthly mortgage payments on for-sale homes in Los Angeles require 46.8 percent of the median income.
• Monthly payments for the median-valued U.S. home require 16 percent of the median income.

Mortgage payments take up too large a share of income

 One reason this home shopping season is so difficult for buyers is that the homes available for sale are generally more expensive than the median home value of all homes in the same market.

As home prices recovered and surpassed the peak values reached during the housing bubble, concerns about housing affordability also returned, despite low mortgage rates keeping monthly payments relatively affordable. The large down payments that come with high prices are a significant barrier to homeownership, and the monthly payments are taking up a larger share of income as well.

Nationally, mortgage payments on the median home for sale require 20 percent of the median income.

Los Angeles homebuyers have to spend the highest share of income on mortgage payments – the typical home for sale would require 46.8 percent of the median income. In the years leading up to the housing bubble, Los Angeles homebuyers would have had to spend 35.2 percent of their income on mortgage payments for the typical home.

Cleveland homes for sale are more affordable than homes were historically. The median list price of about $144,000 would require 12.7 percent of the median income for monthly mortgage payments. In pre-bubble years, paying the mortgage on the typical Cleveland home required 20 percent of the median income.

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