First time home buyers

For New Orleans-area homebuyers, the suburbs are calling.

Strong home purchase activity — especially by millennials — pushed up annual price appreciation in July after a disappointing June, according to CoreLogic.

Mortgage debt climbed to a new peak of $9.4 trillion in the second quarter and the distribution across the U.S. varies greatly.

Here's a look at five perspectives from potential homebuyers, from their plans to purchase to how they view the current real estate market.

While affordability continues to affect homebuyers, rising income combined with descending interest rates and decelerating housing values boosted the purchase market, according to First American.

To boost its presence in affordable housing, Synovus Bank is devoting considerable resources to training its loan officers.

Millennial mortgage debt is on pace to reach levels higher than any other generation, according to Experian.

Mortgage debt hit an all-time high, but the share of homeowners with financing has fallen to a low not seen in 13 years, according to the Urban Institute.

Sales of previously owned homes increased in July to a five-month high, underscoring stability in the residential real estate market that may be starting to get a boost from falling borrowing costs.

Here's a look at 12 of the nation's most affordable housing markets, based on the lowest shares of median local income needed to buy a house in the area, according to Redfin.