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Housing Affordability Index Based on May 2017

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At the national level, housing affordability is down from last month and down from a year ago. Mortgage rates increased to 4.01 percent this May, up compared to 3.83 percent a year ago.

  • Housing affordability declined from a year ago in May moving the index down 5.4 percent from 161.8 to 153.0. The median sales price for a single family home sold in May in the US was $254,600 up 6.0 percent from a year ago.
  • Nationally, mortgage rates were up 18 basis point from one year ago (one percentage point equals 100 basis points) while incomes rose 2.4 percent.
  • Regionally, the Midwest and the West shared the biggest increase in price at 7.4 percent. The South had an increase of 5.0 percent. The Northeast had the smallest incline in price of 4.9 percent.
  • Regionally, all four regions saw a decline in affordability from a year ago. The West had the biggest decline of 7.3 percent. The Midwest followed with a decline of 6.8 percent. The South had a decline of 5.0 while the Northeast had the smallest decline of 4.6 percent.
  • By region, affordability is down from last month except in the South where there was no change. The Midwest had the biggest decline of 3.5 percent followed by the Northeast who had a decline of 2.9 percent. The West had the smallest decline in affordability of 2.3 percent.
  • Despite month-to-month changes, the most affordable region is the Midwest where the index is 187.8.  The least affordable region remains the West where the index is 109.2.  For comparison, the index is 154.8 in the South, and 158.2 in the Northeast.
  • Mortgage applications are currently down this week. Housing activity and consumer confidence is up but providing for demand remains a challenge. More new construction will help improve home ownership rates and tame price growth.
  • What does housing affordability look like in your market?
  • The Housing Affordability Index calculation assumes a 20 percent down payment and a 25 percent qualifying ratio (principal and interest payment to income).

    • If you are in the Los Angeles area, have any questions or real estate sales or financing needs, feel free in contacting me.

    Ron Henderson GRI, RECS, CIAS
    President/Broker
    Multi Real Estate Services, Inc.
    Gov’t Affairs Chair – California Association of Mortgage Professionals
    BRE #00905793  NMLS #310358
    www.mres.com
    ronh@mres.com
    Specialist in the Art of Real Estate Sales and Finance
    Real Estate market, mortgage rates, Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Conejo Valley, Simi Valley, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Calabasas, Chatsworth

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