Housing Affordability Close To 4-Year High In September

According to the NAR’s most recent report, the housing affordability index (HAI) reached 135.2 in September, which is close to a four-year high (see chart above) and just slightly below the 135.4 leve in Febraury (when 30-year mortgage rates dipped below 6%).

An HAI of 135.2 means that a family earning the median family income in September ($60,730) had 135.2%% of the income necessary to qualify for a conventional loan (at 6.22%) covering 80% of a median-priced existing single-family home in September ($190,600).

Since July 2007 when the HAI was at only 103.6 (due to higher home prices and interest rates, $228,500 and 6.8% respectively), the 31.6 point increase in housing affordabilty to 135.2 over the last 14 months should continue to play an important role in the recovery process for the slumping real estate market. It’s a buyer’s market.

Note: The NAR’s report on housing affordability index released last Wednesday received no media attention; I couldn’t find a single news report. But you’ll find hundreds of stories on foreclosures and falling home prices. Go figure. Positive, upbeat news doesn’t sell as well as gloom and doom?

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