Only 15.5% of homes for sale in 2023 were affordable for the typical U.S. household, according to new data from Redfin (NASDAQ:RDFN). This presents a drop from 20.7 in 2022 for a new record low; prior to the pandemic, more than 40% of homes were affordable.
Redfin also noted there were 352,500 affordable listings in 2023, down 40.9% from 596,135 in 2022 and down from over a million per year during the prior decade.
Among different demographics, only 6.9% of homes for sale in 2023 were affordable for the typical Black household, compared with 21.6% for the typical white household. The share was nearly as low for Hispanic/Latino households (10.4%) and was highest for Asian households (27.4%).
However, Redfin is predicting a turnaround for 2024.
“Many of the factors that made 2023 the least affordable year for homebuying on record are easing,” said Redfin Senior Economist Elijah de la Campa. “Mortgage rates are under 7% for the first time in months, home price growth is slowing as lower rates prompt more people to list their homes, and overall inflation continues to cool. We’ll likely see a jump in home purchases in the new year as buyers take advantage of lower mortgage rates and more listings after the holidays.”
