Overview

• Americans on average name $74,000 as the ideal annual pay, according to a Talker Research survey.
• Realtor.com’s analysis finds that income buys a median‑priced home only in West Virginia and Louisiana under a 20% down payment and roughly 6.5% mortgage rate.
• Even at $148,000, buyers still fall short in 13 states, underscoring wide geographic disparities in affordability.
• Median prices top about $410,000 for new homes and $422,000 for existing homes, with a typical payment near $2,500 at current rates exceeding the 30% guideline for a $74,000 salary.
• Experts cite high prices and scarce listings—exacerbated by owners clinging to low pandemic-era mortgages—along with rising insurance and property taxes, and note only modest recent easing in rates and price growth.