The dream of homeownership can feel increasingly out of reach for many, especially for middle-income households navigating today’s complex housing market. It’s a challenging landscape where the available homes often don’t align with what many prospective buyers can truly afford.
A recent analysis, the May 2026 Housing Mismatch Report, a collaborative effort from Realtor.com® and the National Association of Realtors®, sheds light on this growing disparity.
Middle-income households continue to face the largest supply gap, with buyers earning around $75,000 able to afford homes priced up to about $261,140. Homes priced below this point currently account for only about 23% of listings nationally, a stark contrast to the approximately 44% found in a balanced market…