Rising home prices, higher interest rates and low inventories have conspired recently to reduce the ability of middle-class Americans to buy a home. In some markets, middle-class buyers may be effectively shut out, while in others home prices are much more affordable.
Online real-estate site Trulia has calculated housing affordability in 100 metropolitan areas by comparing median income in each metro area with the cost of owning a home. Housing affordability is calculated for based on a total monthly mortgage payment that assumes a 4.4% 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with 20% down, property taxes for that area and insurance. The affordability cutoff is 31% of pretax monthly income, which is the guideline used by the Federal Housing Administration and the Home Affordable Modification Program to determine whether a home is within a potential buyer’s reach. The debt-to-income ratio of 43% used to compute a qualified mortgage includes all a borrower’s debt, not just housing debt.
The 10 most affordable housing markets for middle-income buyers are listed here in order of percentage of homes for sale that are affordable.
- Akron, Ohio: 86% affordable
- Toledo, Ohio: 84%
- Dayton, Ohio: 83%
- Gary, Indiana: 83%
- Columbia, S.C.: 82%
- Columbus, Ohio: 81%
- Detroit, Mich.: 81%
- Cleveland, Ohio: 81%
- Little Rock, Ark.: 81%
- Rochester, N.Y.: 81%
Leading the cities where the fewest homes are affordable for middle-class buyers are San Francisco (14%), Los Angeles (23%), Orange County, Calif. (24%) and New York City (25%).
In Manhattan, only 2.3% of homes for sale are affordable to a middle-class buyer. Frankly, we are surprised that number isn’t zero.
READ MORE: Home Prices Surge in Seven U.S. Cities
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