02/15/2026
Housing affordability is expected to take center stage in 2026, with President Donald Trump promising to announce "the most aggressive housing reform in history" early in the new year.
The crisis has strained the market for three years, pushing home sales to 30-year lows and driving the typical first-time buyer’s age to a record 40.
A new analysis finds that restoring 2019 affordability—when mortgage payments averaged 21% of median income, versus more than 30% today—would require one unlikely shift: mortgage rates falling to 2.65%, incomes rising 56% to $132,171, or home prices dropping 35% to $273,000. While none are expected in 2026, the data highlights how far the market remains from pre-pandemic affordability.