Just 15.5 percent of homes for sale in 2023 were affordable for the average earner, but there could be hope for 2024.

An end-of-year report from real-estate brokerage firm Redfin confirms what many around the country have been saying all year: most Americans could not afford to purchase homes in 2023.
“An analysis of listings in 97 of the most populous metropolitan areas in the country found that just 15.5% of homes for sale in 2023 were affordable for the typical U.S. household. That's a decrease from last year, when Redfin found that 21% of homes listed for sale were affordable for the typical buyer,” reported Aliza Chasan of CBS News.
Redfin defines affordability as a mortgage payment of 30 percent or less of the average monthly income residents in the local county.
Their data reflects findings from the National Association of Realtors, released earlier this year, that that middle-income households with annual earnings of up to $75,000 can afford only 23 percent of the homes listed for sale in the U.S.
The report indicates that high mortgage interest rates are likely to blame; to avoid paying a rate of 7 percent or higher on a new home, fewer homeowners have listed their properties. “Slim inventory means that buyers are competing for a limited pool of housing, driving prices upward,” writes Chasan.
But signs are hopeful for 2024. According to Realtor.com, housing inventory rose 7.5 percent year-over-year in November, and Freddie Mac said mortgage rates are slowly dropping below 7 percent for the first time in more than four months.
FULL STORY: Most home listings unaffordable for typical earner in 2023, report finds

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.

California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.

HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland