The dream of homeownership remains a significant challenge for many Americans, particularly for middle-income households struggling to find properties within their budget.
This growing disparity is highlighted in the May 2026 Housing Mismatch Report, a collaborative analysis from Realtor.com® and the National Association of Realtors®.
The report reveals that middle-income households continue to face the largest supply gap, with buyers earning around $75,000 currently able to afford homes priced up to about $261,140. Homes priced below this point currently account for only about 23% of listings nationally, compared with about 44% in a balanced market, representing an effective shortage of about 311,000 listings within reach of these buyers…