The dream of homeownership can feel increasingly out of reach for many, especially when the available homes don’t align with what buyers can realistically afford.
This challenge is particularly acute for middle-income households, who continue to face the largest supply gap in today’s housing market.
A collaborative analysis from Realtor.com® and the National Association of Realtors® in their May 2026 Housing Mismatch Report highlights this critical issue. Buyers earning around $75,000 can currently afford homes priced up to about $261,140, yet homes below this price point account for only about 23% of listings nationally, compared with about 44% in a balanced market…