Q: I just read that housing affordability just reached a new low. What does that mean? Cliff, Bergenfield, NJ A: The Housing Affordability Index measures whether or not a typical family earns enough income to qualify for a mortgage loan on a typical home based on the most recent home price and income data. An affordability index above 100 signifies that a family earning the median income has more than enough income to qualify for a mortgage loan on a median-priced home, assuming a 20 percent down payment. The Housing Affordability Index dropped to 98.5 in June, its lowest rate since 1989. This means that it was more expensive to buy a U.S. home in June than it has been […]
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