Housing affordability

From the crossroads of America down to the bayou, here's a look at 12 housing markets where it's the most financially prudent to buy a home rather than rent, according to First American.

We need to be doing everything possible to ensure those that needed down payment assistance are able to keep their homes during this crisis and beyond.

Consumer confidence for home buying fell to its lowest point since December 2016, according to Fannie Mae.

With the economy and job market both healthy before the COVID-19 crisis, first-time homebuyers took advantage of low mortgage rates and hit their highest volume in two decades.

Consumer sentiment for home buying stayed near its record high behind low mortgage rates and a strong job market, though the declining stock markets and COVID-19 concerns may change that soon, according to Fannie Mae.

To help the housing crunch, a growing consensus of economists believe adding homes on lots where one already exists would benefit affordability and incrementally boost supply, according to Zillow.

Reduced construction and domestic migration in search of better job markets caused housing supply deficits in over half of the U.S., according to Freddie Mac.

Overall housing value growth remained steady in the fourth quarter with some states going way above the national average, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency's Home Price Index.

A deepening imbalance between entry-level buyers and sellers is creating stiff competition, and multiple offers for more than list price aren't unusual.

With inventory tight, roughly 80% of housing markets had purchase bidding competition in January and value appreciation is expected to increase in the coming months.