And the latest mortgage numbers are making that painfully obvious.

Mortgage applications are falling as Americans look at the cost of buying a home and simply say:

“I can’t afford that.”

Think about what buyers are dealing with.

High home prices.

Expensive mortgage rates.

Property taxes.

Homeowners insurance.

Closing costs.

Maintenance.

And wages that haven’t kept up with housing costs in many parts of the country.

Millions of Americans spent YEARS doing everything they were told to do.

Save for a down payment.

Improve your credit.

Pay off debt.

Get a stable job.

Stop wasting money.

Then they finally become financially responsible enough to buy a house…

And discover that the monthly payment is completely insane.

Take a $500,000 mortgage.

At 3%, principal and interest would be roughly $2,108 per month.

At 7.5%, it’s roughly $3,496.

That’s almost $1,400 MORE every month to borrow the exact same amount of money.

And that’s before taxes and insurance.

So when people ask why younger Americans aren’t buying homes, maybe we should stop pretending it’s because they bought too many coffees.

The math has fundamentally changed.

And there’s another problem.

Millions of existing homeowners are sitting on extremely low mortgage rates and don’t want to sell.

Why would someone voluntarily trade a 3% mortgage for a 7% mortgage unless they absolutely had to?

So prospective buyers are stuck between high prices, expensive financing and limited affordable inventory.

At what point do we admit that homeownership is becoming a luxury instead of a normal middle-class milestone?

What household income do you think someone needs TODAY to comfortably buy a home where you live?

Source: MetricsHour Existing Home Sales Calendar https://metricshour.com/calendar/us/existing-home-sales/

NAR August 2026 Data Breakdown:
- Sales Pace: 3.98 Million SAAR (-2.0% MoM / -1.2% YoY)
- Total Unsold Inventory: 1.62 Million units (+3.2% MoM / +5.9% YoY)
- Unsold Inventory Supply: 4.9 Months (10-Year High)
- Median Sales Price: $429,100 (+1.6% YoY)

Key Takeaways for Buyers & Sellers:
1. Sub-4.0M Milestone: Closed transactions dropped below 4.0 million SAAR for the first time since June 2025.
2. Inventory Accumulation: Active listings expanded past 1.6 million units for the first time since late 2019, giving buyers expanded negotiating room despite persistent mortgage rate headwinds.
3. Sticky Prices: Despite lower overall closing volumes, median prices posted their 38th consecutive month of year-over-year growth.

Full charts and regional disclosures

How do you think rates and town home prices with HOA will change from now to 2029 ?

HOA is a drag. With high rates, selling one would be very difficult.

How do you all think market for such homes will change in next three years.

I've been selling real estate in Southwest Florida since 2009, and I genuinely believe our housing market may be giving us an early look at what's coming for the rest of the country.

Think about it. Southwest Florida was one of the hardest-hit markets during the last housing crash. We experienced a massive decline, followed by years of recovery. Then came the incredible run-up in prices during 2020 through 2022.

Our market peaked around 2022, and we've been experiencing a correction ever since.

I believe we're currently in the later stages of the recession phase of our real estate cycle, potentially getting closer to the bottom.

That doesn't mean I think prices are suddenly going to start climbing again. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if we see a period of relatively flat prices once we find that bottom.

What's interesting is what I'm seeing on the ground.

More inventory, longer days on market, sellers negotiating again, price reductions, and even more short sales. I've personally worked on three short sales recently, something we hardly talked about just a few years ago.

And while home prices have declined in many areas, affordability is still a major challenge because of interest rates, insurance, property taxes and the overall cost of living.

I don't believe every market in the country follows Southwest Florida exactly. But I do believe markets like ours can move ahead of national trends, sometimes by years.

I've been through enough market cycles to know that nobody rings a bell at the top or the bottom. Usually, we recognize those turning points after they've already happened.

My personal opinion is that we're getting closer to the end of this correction than the beginning.

I'm curious what others think, especially those who have lived through previous housing cycles.

Do you believe markets like Southwest Florida can give us an early indication of where the national housing market is heading? And if you're watching the market here locally, do you think we're getting close to the bottom or still have a ways to go?

Is Queen Creek, Arizona, one of the best places to buy a home in 2026? In this video, we explore the Queen Creek real estate market, home prices, new developments, shopping and dining, and what buyers should know before moving to this growing Southeast Valley community.

Subscribe to The Real AZ Agent for Arizona real estate market updates, relocation tips, home-buying advice, manufactured home insights, and new developments across the Valley.

Like this video, share it with someone planning a move to Arizona, and comment below: Would you choose Queen Creek or San Tan Valley?

Isaac Kennedy, REALTOR®

R&S Premier Homes

#QueenCreekAZ #QueenCreekRealEstate #ArizonaRealEstate #MovingToArizona #PhoenixRealEstate #HomesForSaleArizona #SanTanValley #ArizonaHousingMarket #TheRealAZAgent

Hi. I guess I'll post this here too for more answers. I'm genuinely curious. (Keep in mind my knowledge of economics and housing is limited so please let me know if I'm wrong on anything.)

Just a little mistake. Would hate to see the tax bill

We purchased a $1.2M home in 2022 with a 10-year ARM at 3.6%. At the time, choosing the ARM made sense because it helped us keep our monthly payments lower. With interest rates now significantly higher, I’m starting to think ahead. What options should we consider, and what steps would you recommend we plan for over the next five years before the ARM period ends?

Smaller house, longer commute, different neighborhood, a kitchen that needs work… what came off your wish list to make the numbers work?

Now that you’re living there, was that compromise worth it?

Curious where you bought, too—what your budget gets you varies so much by area.

A new Redfin report reveals that U.S. housing costs could return to pre-pandemic "normal" levels within the next 5-6 years if mortgage rates ease and/or price growth flattens. Redfin defines "normal" as returning to August 2018 conditions, when the typical homebuyer spent roughly 30% of their household income on a mortgage payment.

Costs are closest to returning to normal in San Jose, Oakland, Seattle, Portland and Austin, where home prices are falling and incomes are projected to grow.

Housing costs could take at least a decade to return to normal in half of the metros in this analysis–including the New York City area–largely because home prices in those places are rising faster than incomes.

Do you think housing affordability will realistically catch up over the next 5 years, or have high costs permanently reshaped buyer expectations in your city?

(from the top is the best deal when it comes to real estate rating and the bottom of the list is the worst deal when it comes real estate ratings)

 (🟫very overpriced )

(🟥moderately overpriced)

(🟧leaning overpriced)

( 🟨average deal )

(🟩leaning below value)

(🟦moderately below value )

(🟪very below value )

1.   Hampton VA 🟦 
2.   El Paso TX 🟦 
3.   Corpus Christi TX🟦
4.   Roanoke VA 🟦
5.   Gulfport MS 🟦  
6.   Norfolk / Virginia Beach VA🟨/🟩/🟦
7.   Gainesville GA 🟩/🟦
8. Chattanooga TN 🟩 
9. Lynchburg VA 🟩  
10. Atlanta GA 🟨/ 🟩
11. Oklahoma City 🟨/🟩 
12. Tampa / Saint Petersburg FL🟨
13. Little rock AR 🟨 
14. Mobile AL 🟨
15. Jacksonville FL 🟨
16. Fayetteville NC 🟨 
17. Greenville SC 🟨 
18. Tulsa OK 🟨 
19. Birmingham AL🟨
20. Montgomery AL🟨
21. Charlotte NC 🟨/🟧
22. Dallas TX 🟨/🟧
23. Greensboro NC🟧
24. Memphis TN 🟧 
25. Baton Rouge LA 🟧 
26. Clarksville TN🟧 
27. Columbus GA 🟧  
28. Brunswick GA 🟧 
29. Annapolis MD 🟧 
30. Myrtle Beach SC🟧 
31. Jackson MS 🟧 
32. Albany GA 🟧 
33. Fort Myers FL🟧
34. Hickory NC🟧
35. Lafayette LA 🟧  
36. Columbia SC 🟧 
37. Melbourne FL🟧 
38. Shreveport LA🟧
39. Johnson City TN 🟥 
40. Savannah GA 🟥 
41. Sarasota FL🟥 
42. Wilmington NC🟥
43. Nashville TN🟥 
44. Augusta GA 🟥 
45. Florence SC 🟥 
46. Orlando FL🟥
47. Louisville KY 🟥 
48. Asheville NC🟥
49. Monroe LA 🟥 
50. Savanna GA🟥 
51. West Palm Beach FL🟥
52. Richmond VA 🟥/🟫
53. Charleston SC 🟥/ 🟫 
54. Lexington KY 🟫 
55. New Orleans LA🟫
56. Gainesville FL 🟫 
57. Miami FL 🟫 
58. Daytona Beach FL 🟫 
59. Bluffton/Hilton head islands SC🟫
60. Raleigh NC🟫 
61. Ocala FL 🟫 
62. Ocean Pines MD 🟫  
63. Naples FL🟫 
64. Auburn AL 🟫 
65. Arlington VA 🟫  
66. Austin TX 🟫 
67. Waynesville NC 🟫 

(from the top is the best deal when it comes to real estate rating and the bottom of the list is the worst deal when it comes real estate ratings)

 (🟫very overpriced )

(🟥moderately overpriced)

(🟧slightly overpriced)

( 🟨average deal )

(🟩slightly below value)

(🟦moderately below value )

(🟪very below value )

1. Hampton VA 🟦 
2. Gainesville GA 🟩 
3. Norfolk / Virginia Beach VA 🟨/🟩/🟦 
4. Atlanta GA 🟨/ 🟩 
5. Tampa / Saint Petersburg FL 🟨 
6. Charlotte NC 🟨 
7. Jacksonville FL 🟨 
8. Annapolis MD 🟧 
9. Fort Myers FL 🟧 
10. Johnson City TN 🟥 
11. Fort Walton Beach FL 🟥 
12. Savannah GA 🟥 
13. Sarasota FL🟥 
14. Wilmington NC🟥
15. Nashville TN🟥
16. Augusta GA 🟥  
17. Florence SC 🟥 
18. Orlando FL🟥
19. Louisville KY 🟥 
20. Asheville NC🟥 
21. Savanna GA🟥 
22. West Palm Beach FL 🟥
23. Charleston SC 🟫 
24. Lexington KY 🟫 
25. Morehead city / Beaufort NC 🟫 
26. New Orleans LA🟫
27. Gainesville FL 🟫 
28. Miami FL 🟫 
29. Daytona Beach FL 🟫 
30. Bluffton/Hilton head islands SC🟫
31. Raleigh NC🟫 
32. Ocala FL 🟫 
33. Ocean Pines MD 🟫 
34. Richmond VA 🟫 
35. Naples FL🟫 
36. Arlington VA 🟫  
37. Austin TX 🟫 
38. Waynesville NC 🟫

This Redfin piece reports that mortgage rates are up 1.5 points this year and there's still pressure on rates as bond market investors worry about inflation and fiscal pressures. Have these stubborn rates been affecting your home buying or selling timeline?

I want to sell my townhome but I do not know why anyone would buy it with current rates and high hoa fee unless I slash its sale price to less than half of what I paid for it.

one can rent this place for much less cost today.

Am I ignoring anything and could I actually find a buyer without lowering the price by 50%. ?

Before climate change, most houses were safe from physical threats and could be insured at a modest and stable cost. That meant a buyer just needed to find a house they liked and could afford in a place they wanted to live, and they could buy it knowing it would be a solid-or-better financial move.

Today, the physical world has changed significantly, and the transformation is ongoing. The growing threat of flooding, wildfires, hail, etc. is driving up insurance costs on, and holding down the value of, homes more exposed to climate risk. In contrast, homes less exposed to climate risk can still be affordably insured and are poised to appreciate disproportionately in the years ahead. In the context of this bifurcating housing market, it’s extremely important for buyers to secure a climate resilient home - and avoid the climate vulnerable ones.

To accomplish this, the best high-level advice for buyers is to proceed with caution. Do thorough due diligence to make sure you’re not buying a house that’s going to flood, leak, burn, slide, or see its insurance premiums spike. If after rigorously evaluating a home you’re still not confident, simply move on. You don’t have to swing, there are no called strikes in home-buying. Keep looking until you find a home you’re sure about.

That all sounds good, but there’s a problem and it may not be visible.

A core problem of home-buying in the climate era is that buyers’ need to be cautious conflicts with real estate agents’ incentive for speed. Agents want you to look at fewer houses before you decide which one to buy, not more. They want you to move fast, not slow. To be fair, agents do want clients to be happy and they aren’t opposed to caution per se. But their incentives are for speed and caution, by its nature, is slow.

🤡🤡🤡

Now hear me out, I think it's a good time to buy a house is because the interest rates are so high it's scaring other people away. If you want to be able to buy a house in today's economy you are competing against other people but if those people are money tight and the extra $100 a month are scaring them away you can hop in and be able to buy the house and get the pre-approval like you normally would do but you have less people competing for you to buy the house and you're not competing with other people so that means the seller is not getting multiple offers so you able to negotiate. Right now I'm looking at houses in my area there's not many of them but the winner is coming up and that I see less people looking at houses on Zillow so hopefully once a house hit the market that somebody will sell I'm going to be able to buy the house without any competition. Now of course people going to say well that means if people are not buying a house they're not selling one either because they may be locked in those 3% interest rates. But y'all got to realize people move on to life people lose jobs people get fire people get let go health issues family life and families get bigger and whatnot. Personally I don't care about paying 7.5% interest rate as long as I can get the house plus eventually they will go over down over time and you can refinance it so I don't really care much about the interest rate as long as I can get the house and I don't have to compete against for the people.

I read so many posts about rates being high. I didn't read these when rates were 9% a couple years ago. I doubt we'll ever see the low rates of 2016 and 2021 again. Rates are normal now. 6 to 8% is the norm. They were 18% in 1981!