{"id":29303,"date":"2026-08-06T02:57:30","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T21:57:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=29303"},"modified":"2026-08-06T02:57:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T21:57:30","slug":"this-is-the-salary-needed-to-afford-a-typical-us-home-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=29303","title":{"rendered":"This is the salary needed to afford a typical US home in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Americans still need to earn nearly $110,000 a year to comfortably <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/goto?url=CAESZgHuR6pN-YXNypO90ZZG5SYs0l8XCSWxXXlOXauTQc9mvBP8Jzma2oimeyXNymVCHQDuPOVD1sd6S4sr6RHKf2c5RGAe6YmWam4Pp9hjjqXuy9U4em1cFBUx4abuQg6pCSya7h0oLQ==\" data-ylk=\"slk:afford%20the%20typical%20home%20for%20sale;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;afford the typical home for sale&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">afford the typical home for sale<\/a> in the United States, even as housing affordability has shown modest signs of improvement over the past year.<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/affordability-homebuying-2026\/\" data-ylk=\"slk:new%20Redfin%20report;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;new Redfin report&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">new Redfin report<\/a> found that a household would need an annual income of $109,796 to purchase the median-priced U.S. home in June 2026 while spending no more than 30% of said income on housing costs. That&#8217;s just 0.5% lower than the record high of $110,382 a year ago, meaning the income needed to buy a home has changed very little over the past year.<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->The stabilization comes as household incomes have continued to rise alongside home prices. Redfin estimates the median U.S. household earned $87,599 in June, up 4% from a year ago, while the median home sale price increased 2.2%. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/money\/personalfinance\/2026\/07\/07\/mortgage-rates-timing-home-buying\/90835488007\/\" data-ylk=\"slk:Mortgage%20rates;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Mortgage rates&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Mortgage rates<\/a> also eased slightly but remained in the mid-6% range, keeping borrowing costs elevated.<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Even with those gains, according to Redfin, the typical household still earns about $22,200 less than what&#8217;s needed to purchase the median-priced home and be financially comfortable. That&#8217;s an improvement from the roughly $26,100 gap a year ago, and nearly $28,900 two years ago, but it remains a significant hurdle for many prospective buyers.<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Here&#8217;s more on Redfin&#8217;s recent report.<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><strong>A knowledge gap, <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/money\/personalfinance\/2026\/07\/07\/improve-odds-buying-home-tips\/90741849007\/\" data-ylk=\"slk:not%20just%20the%20economy%2C%20is%20holding%20back%20homebuyers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;not just the economy, is holding back homebuyers&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">not just the economy, is holding back homebuyers<\/a><!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text text-block heading text-left neo-font-heading-lg  yf-18d6y07\" role=\"heading\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Affordability remains a challenge<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/h2>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Redfin defines a home as affordable when a buyer with a 15% down payment spends no more than 30% of their monthly income on mortgage payments, property taxes and other housing costs.<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;The earnings needed to buy a house have stabilized after several years of deterioration, but that doesn&#8217;t mean homes are affordable to the average American,&#8221; Redfin Senior Economist Yingqi Xu said in the report.<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Xu said the market has become &#8220;a bit more manageable&#8221; for buyers because it is now a &#8220;buyer&#8217;s market&#8221; in much of the country, giving shoppers more options and stronger negotiating power. Even so, she said many prospective first-time buyers remain on the sidelines because the typical household still earns far less than what&#8217;s needed to afford a home and be financially comfortable.<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Redfin economists said affordability could improve slightly by the end of the year; however, the real estate company warned it could also worsen if interest rates rise more than expected, oil prices increase further or inflation accelerates.<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><strong>More on housing: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/money\/personalfinance\/real-estate\/2026\/06\/17\/americas-housing-expensive-unavailable-giving-up\/90487899007\/\" data-ylk=\"slk:Why%20so%20many%20Americans%20can't%20afford%20housing%20anymore;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Why so many Americans can't afford housing anymore&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Why so many Americans can&#8217;t afford housing anymore<\/a><!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text text-block heading text-left neo-font-heading-lg  yf-18d6y07\" role=\"heading\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->More listings are within reach<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/h2>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->The report found buyers are spending a smaller share of their income on housing than a year ago. The typical homebuyer would need to spend 37.6% of their income on a median-priced home, down from 39.3% last year. Redfin said the decline comes as median household income increased from $84,257 to $87,599, while the income needed to afford a home remained largely unchanged.<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: none\" data-testid=\"read-more\">\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Meanwhile, 34.2% of homes for sale were affordable for households earning the national median income in June, up from 30.5% a year earlier. Even so, Redfin noted affordability remains well below pre-2022 levels, when more than half of listings were typically within reach of the median-income household.<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text text-block heading text-left neo-font-heading-lg  yf-18d6y07\" role=\"heading\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Where affordability is improving<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/h2>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Affordability improved in 24 of the 46 major metro areas Redfin analyzed. Seattle saw the largest improvement, with the income needed to afford the typical home falling 7.4% from a year ago as home prices declined. San Jose and Portland also saw some of the biggest drops, with the income needed to afford a home falling 6.5% and 4.5%, respectively.<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Despite those improvements, homes in many West Coast markets remain out of reach for average earners. San Francisco remained the nation&#8217;s least affordable major metro, where buyers would need an annual income of $453,205 to afford the typical home.<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Only three major metro areas, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, had median household incomes that exceeded the income required to afford the typical local home, according to Redfin.<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><em>Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or on X @athompsonUSAT<\/em><!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><em>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/money\/2026\/08\/05\/income-needed-afford-typical-us-home-2026-redfin-report\/91185869007\/\" data-ylk=\"slk:This%20is%20the%20salary%20needed%20to%20afford%20a%20typical%20US%20home%20in%202026;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;This is the salary needed to afford a typical US home in 2026&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><em>This is the salary needed to afford a typical US home in 2026<\/em><\/a><!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Americans still need to earn nearly $110,000 a year to comfortably afford the typical home for sale in the United States, even as housing affordability has shown modest signs of improvement over the past year. A new Redfin report found that a household would need an annual income of $109,796 to purchase the median-priced U.S&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29304,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/0D41B400E3F96789347A1D16EF91367A5E00245103F1CA35D51AAA1278C88235\/subgraphmysterio\/resizefill_w1200_h804;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fusa_today_money_325%2Fa48212f054fdbfa20b4eb86e2806b528","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-trending-viral-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29303"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29303\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/29304"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}