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Renters face 56.5% of income in all-in costs to buy median resale home
Housing affordability data shows all-in ownership costs can exceed a renter’s entire income in some metros, with Los Angeles at 100%.
HousingWire, citing a Q2 2026 affordability index, says renters would spend 56.5% of household income nationally on all-in costs to buy a median-priced resale home. Those all-in costs include monthly principal and interest, homeowners (hazard) insurance, property taxes, and utilities.
The index highlights large metro gaps, including Los Angeles, where all-in ownership costs would consume 100% of a local renter’s household income. In Corvallis, Oregon, the figure would reach 114% of renter income, with about 13% attributed to property taxes alone, according to the report.
The story also notes that insurance, taxes, and utilities push total costs in several metros into the 70% to 100% range. Housing demand faces additional headwinds tied to low consumer confidence, elevated mortgage rates and home prices, and rising hazard insurance costs.
HousingWire frames the affordability challenge alongside federal housing policy, pointing to the 2026 ROAD to Housing Act, enacted July 11, which focuses on expanding U.S. housing supply rather than increasing demand. The piece says experts generally agree that more supply could help, but notes that price points and location relative to jobs, transportation, health care, and schools remain critical.