U.S. Housing Affordability Hits a Breaking Point | Helping People in Real Estate

The latest national housing snapshot confirms what many of you are feeling: affordability is at a breaking point heading into 2026. Existing home sales are still dragging, new construction isn’t picking up the slack, and more renters are staying put—because, frankly, options are shrinking fast. Median home prices (new and existing) have topped $400,000, with mortgage rates above 6%, so the cost of owning a home is hitting near-record highs. Since 2020, we’ve seen existing home prices climb to nearly five times the median income. By late Q4 2025, the typical monthly payment for a median-priced home landed close to $3,100, which means you’d need an income over $120,000 just to qualify. And for renters? Units under $1,000 have dropped by 7 million, leaving 11 million of the lowest-income renters fighting for just 3.8 million affordable units. Efforts at every level—state, local, and federal—are trying to ease things, from cutting red tape to expanding financing tools, but it’s clear: there’s still a long road ahead when it comes to affordability and real access. If you’re looking at your options—whether buying, selling, or just trying to make sense of where you stand—I’m here to give you straight answers and creative solutions. In a market like this, you need more than just a sign in the yard. You need a plan that works.