Housing affordability

Even before Amazon.com Inc. completes its Northern Virginia office hub, the e-commerce giant has helped make the area the most competitive housing market in the U.S.

Despite a record streak of higher prices, some economists believe homes in certain Bay Area communities should be considered a bargain. And that's even with median price tags easily topping a million bucks.

With bidding wars subsiding, new-home sales prices dropped, causing the largest decline in new construction since 2013, according to Redfin.

From the Lone Star State to the beaches of Florida, here's a look at the top 15 housing markets with the largest influx of VA purchase loans between 2015 and 2018, according to Veterans United.

Jumbo loan product availability continued climbing and reached an all-time high in July, but it wasn't enough to stop overall credit standards from tightening, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Positive views on job security and mortgage rates pushed consumer sentiment on housing to an all-time high in July, according to Fannie Mae.

Even as digital mortgage availability make it easier for Americans to navigate the process, many would-be buyers are struggling to afford a home.

Weak home sales put a speed bump in the way of accelerating house values as price growth slowed to a pace not seen since the start of the decade, according to CoreLogic.

The Federal Housing Administration program insured three-quarters of the mortgages obtained by millennial homebuyers as most had trouble saving up for a 20% down payment, a LendEDU study found.

Colorado Springs-area homebuyers still can find an affordable house in today's red-hot, record-setting real estate market. They just have to move to Pueblo.

Proximity to grocery stores can greatly improve home values for both real estate buyers and investors, though some stores have greater effects than others, according to Attom Data Solutions.

Lower mortgage rates are giving homebuyer affordability a serious boost as it reaches an 18-month high, helping purchasers afford $45,000 more house for the same monthly payment compared to last fall.

Black Americans haven't experienced the same increase in housing values, wealth and ownership that white Americans have during the past decade's economic expansion, when home prices soared 73%, according to Redfin.

Despite today's high tech salaries, two-income households, and a swelling economy, the current generation of Bay Area residents spends much more of their income to buy a house compared to their parents and grandparents.

In the constant search for metro areas offering affordability and purchasing power, consumers abscond exorbitantly priced big cities in favor of alternative locales further inland.

Any growth in housing starts and home sales in the second half of 2019 will be muted by continuing inventory constraints and rising home prices, according to Freddie Mac.

Low mortgage rates and thriving employment should be the recipe for a strong housing market. Instead, they're deepening America's affordability crisis.

Contract signings to purchase previously owned homes rose in June by the most in three months, indicating demand may pick up with the help of lower mortgage rates and steady job growth.

Home prices in 20 U.S. cities in May decelerated for a 14th straight month, underscoring moderation in the nation's real estate market.

From Jacksonville, Fla., to Seattle, here's a look at the 12 most favorable housing markets for homebuyer purchasing power, based on a combination of local wages, lower property values and mortgage rates.