Robert Magda: Even Inexpensive Homes Too Pricey for Many Workers

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Even Inexpensive Homes Too Pricey for Many Workers

With rents eating up an ever greater share of people’s incomes, more renters are looking to buy homes. But that avenue isn’t possible for many lower-income workers.

Their incomes are not keeping pace with rising home values. Since 2000, incomes among the lowest third of U.S. workers have grown 15 percent, while home values have gained 41 percent.

Although renters spend an average of 30 percent of their monthly incomes on rent, and home buyers pay an average of 15 percent for mortgage payments, the situation varies considerably by market — and by how much you make.

One extreme case is in Los Angeles, where someone in the bottom third of earners would have to spend an average of 85 percent of her monthly income on a low-priced home. By contrast, middle-income earners would pay 41 percent for mid-priced homes, and the top third of earners would pay 30 percent for the most expensive homes.

Los Angeles is one of four markets — the others are Santa Barbara, Salinas and San Jose, all in California — where the top third of earners would pay 30 percent or more of their monthly incomes for mortgages on expensive homes. Mid-range earners have to pay more than 30 percent of their incomes for mid-valued homes in 11 markets.

But the lowest third of earners have to pay more than 30 percent of their monthly incomes on low-priced homes in 77 markets — effectively pricing many of them out.

For more, check out Zillow Research.

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