Global| Oct 12 2018U.S. Home Affordability Improves M/M
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
The National Association of Realtors reported that its Composite Index of Home Affordability declined 8.3% y/y during August to 141.2. The index was 34.4% below its peak in January 2013. Month-to-month, home affordability rose [...]
The National Association of Realtors reported that its Composite Index of Home Affordability declined 8.3% y/y during August to 141.2. The index was 34.4% below its peak in January 2013. Month-to-month, home affordability rose slightly.
Together, principal & interest payments of $1,119 eased m/m to 17.7% of median income. That percentage compared to a low of 11.6% early in 2013. Higher prices helped reduced affordability during the last year. The median sales price of an existing home strengthened 4.9% y/y to $267,300. This price was lower than during the prior two months as prices typically weaken during the summer. The price decline was accompanied by a higher average mortgage rate of 4.78%, up from a 3.43% low in December 2012. Growth in median family income slowed to 3.0% y/y in August from 3.3% last year, and 4.1% during all of 2016.
The Housing Affordability Index equals 100 when median family income qualifies for an 80% mortgage on a median priced existing single-family home. A rising index indicates more buyers can afford to enter the home-buying market. Data on Home Affordability can be found in Haver's REALTOR database. Interest rate data can be found in the WEEKLY and DAILY databases.
| Housing Affordability | Aug | Jul | Jun | Aug Y/Y | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composite Index | 141.2 | 138.9 | 136.1 | -8.3% | 158.2 | 168.5 | 168.0 |
| Payment as a Percent of Income | 17.7 | 18.0 | 18.4 | 16.2 | 15.8 | 14.9 | 14.9 |
| Principal and Interest Payment | $1,119 | $1,135 | $1,153 | 12.3% | $967 | $880 | $849 |
| Median Sales Price (Existing Single Family Home) | $267,300 | $271,900 | $276,500 | 4.9% | $247,508 | $233,642s | $221,350 |
| Monthly Mortgage Rate | 4.78% | 4.75% | 4.74% | 4.19% | 4.20% | 3.88% | 4.03% |
| Median Family Income | $75,835 | $75,690 | $75,312 | 3.0% | $73,409 | $71,062 | $68,260 |
Tom Moeller
AuthorMore in Author Profile »Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio. Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984. He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C. In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists. Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.
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