Tag Archives: Home Ownership

According to a recent study from Freddie Mac, homeowners and renters alike are facing affordability issues. Click through to learn more about the trends and challenges impacting these two groups.

Younger Americans are carrying the most debt, and the barriers to homeownership vary across the generations. Click here to learn insights from a recent survey.

Freddie Mac's latest survey, conducted in June, found that overall, about 55 percent of renters in both single- and multifamily properties intend to continue renting in the next three years. When dividing up the two categories, however, the data indicated that 53 percent of renters in SFR properties intend to buy a house in the next three years compared to just 36 percent of multifamily renters who plan to buy in that period.

While lowering the down payment on a mortgage may clear one major hurdle to homeownership, a report released by RealtyTrac Tuesday revealed that a monthly mortgage payment is affordable to those with non-mortgage debt in less than half of the counties in the U.S.

Wells Fargo & Company is teaming with several housing organizations to announce the formation of the Cincinnati chapter of the Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT program, an initiative designed to offer $5.2 million from Wells Fargo to improve Cincinnati neighborhoods and increase homeownership in the area.

While nearly seven in 10 Americans agree that now is a good time to become a homeowner, a large number remain reluctant due to their own misconceptions of the financing process, according to survey results. For example, Wells Fargo reported, 30 percent of respondents expressed belief that only people with high incomes can obtain a mortgage at this point, and 64 percent said they believe only those with a "very good"” credit score can buy a home right now.

Home ownership in the United States lost a little more ground last quarter, declining to a new 19-year low as consumers—particularly young adults—continue to grapple with debt and difficulties obtaining credit.

For the majority of homes, buying is cheaper than renting. But as home prices rise faster than incomes and mortgage rates slowly head upwards, the question of national affordability becomes ever more germane. Compared to the longer-term past, homeownership still looks relatively affordable as home prices remain undervalued and mortgage rates remain near historic lows. However, affordability for the middle class in some areas of the nation is becoming problematic.

Zillow's break-even horizon analysis came to an interesting conclusion: in half of U.S. metros, buying a home is a better financial decision than renting for buyers intending to stay in their home at least two years. The company’s analysis includes all costs associated with buying versus renting, including upfront payments, closing costs, anticipated monthly rent and mortgage payments.