Homeowners across the U.S. are facing mounting financial pressures as inflation has driven up the costs of essential goods and services, including housing. With home prices remaining near all-time highs, it is increasingly difficult for many households to afford their mortgage payments and property taxes. Rising insurance costs add further strain to this situation, stretching budgets thin and raising concerns about the sustainability of homeownership.
While the COVID-19 pandemic briefly shaped housing policy with protections like mortgage forbearance, the challenges homeowners face today are driven less by temporary disruptions and more by persistent affordability issues.
kAm%96 9@FD:?8 >2C<6E A=2JD 2 4CF4:2= C@=6 :? E96 3C@256C 64@?@>J[ :?7=F6?4:?8 4@?DF>6C DA6?5:?8 2?5 7:?2?4:2= D64FC:EJ] pD 9@>6@H?6CD ?@H 7246 C:D:?8 4@DED 2?5 7:?2?4:2= AC6DDFC6D[ E96D6 492==6?86D 4@F=5 92G6 72C\C6249:?8 :>A=:42E:@?D 7@C 64@?@>:4 8C@HE9 2?5 DE23:=:EJ] (:E9 E9:D :? >:?5[ C6D62C496CD 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@?DECF4E:@?4@G6C286]4@>^Qmr@?DECF4E:@? r@G6C286k^2m—2 AF3=:42E:@? E92E AC@G:56D 52E2 2?5 C6D62C49 @? 724E@CD E92E D92A6 E96 4@?DECF4E:@? :?5FDECJ—2?2=JK65 E96 =2E6DE 52E2 7C@> E96 r@?DF>6C u:?2?4:2= !C@E64E:@? qFC62F[ r6?DFD qFC62F[ 2?5 +:==@H E@ C6G62= E96 =@42E:@?D >@DE 27764E65 3J C:D:?8 >@CE8286 56=:?BF6?4:6D ?2E:@?H:56]k^Am
kAmw6C6 2C6 D@>6 @7 E96 <6J 7:?5:?8D 7C@> E96 2?2=JD:Dik^Am
kF=mk=:mkDEC@?8m!@DE\!2?56>:4 #6G6CD2=ik^DEC@?8m p7E6C 5C@AA:?8 E@ `]bhT 5FC:?8 E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4[ E96 b_\52J >@CE8286 32=2?46 56=:?BF6?4J C2E6 DFC865 E@ b]egT :? "a a_ad[ 6I4665:?8 AC6\A2?56>:4 =6G6=D]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m|@CE8286D s@>:?2E6 w@FD69@=5 s63Eik^DEC@?8m |@CE8286 =@2?D 244@F?E 7@C @G6C f_T @7 2== &]$] 9@FD69@=5 563E[ E@E2=:?8 >@C6 E92? S`a]h EC:==:@?]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mp== s63E xD @? E96 #:D6ik^DEC@?8m s6=:?BF6?4J C2E6D 7@C 2== >2;@C =@2? EJA6D—:?4=F5:?8 2FE@[ DEF56?E[ 2?5 4C65:E 42C5 563E—92G6 ?@H DFCA2DD65 E96:C AC6\A2?56>:4 =6G6=D]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mp v6@8C2A9:4 s:G:56ik^DEC@?8m $@FE96C? DE2E6D =:<6 |:DD:DD:AA: 2?5 {@F:D:2?2 C6A@CE E96 9:896DE C2E6D @7 >:DD65 >@CE8286 A2J>6?ED[ H9:=6 (6DE r@2DE DE2E6D =:<6 ~C68@? 2?5 r2=:7@C?:2 92G6 E96 =@H6DE]k^=:mk^F=m
k9amr@>A@D:E:@? @7 &]$] w@FD69@=5 s63Ek^9am
kAmk6>m|@CE8286 =@2?D 244@F?E 7@C >@C6 E92? f_T @7 2== 9@FD69@=5 563Ek^6>mk^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 H:5E9lQ`__TQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^5`IfB;dC=9a6`h]4=@F57C@?E]?6E^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^`_^_g`bdg`g^r92CE`0r@>A@D:E:@?\@7\&]$]\w@FD69@=5\s63E]A?8Q ^mk^7:8FC6m
kAm$@FC46i r@?DECF4E:@? r@G6C286 2?2=JD:D @7 u656C2= #6D6CG6 q2?< @7 }6H *@C< 52E2 M x>286 rC65:Ei r@?DECF4E:@? r@G6C286k^Am
kAmpD @7 "a a_ad[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6HJ@C<765]@C8^>65:2=:3C2CJ^:?E6C24E:G6D^9@FD69@=54C65:E^52E2^A57^wwsr0a_ad"aQmE@E2= >@CE8286 563Ek^2m :? E96 &]$] DE2?5D 2E >@C6 E92? S`a]h EC:==:@? 2?5 244@F?ED 7@C >@C6 E92? f_T @7 E96 E@E2= 563E 96=5 3J &]$] 9@FD69@=5D] ~FEDE2?5:?8 >@CE8286 563E C@D6 D92CA=J 5FC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4—=2C86=J 5C:G6? 3J 36=@H\2G6C286 :?E6C6DE C2E6D 2?5 6=6G2E65 56>2?5 7@C 9@FD:?8—2?5 :E 4@?E:?F6D E@ C:D6 E@ C64@C5 =6G6=D :? a_ad]k^Am
kAmr@>A2C65 E@ >@CE8286D[ @E96C 4@?DF>6C =@2? 42E68@C:6D C6AC6D6?E 2 >F49 D>2==6C AC@A@CE:@? @7 E@E2= @FEDE2?5:?8 563E] pFE@ =@2?D 2?5 DEF56?E =@2?D 2C6 E96 ?6IE =2C86DE =@2? EJA6D—6249 @7 H9:49 244@F?ED 7@C C@F89=J hT @7 E@E2= 563E[ @C `gT 4@>3:?65] rC65:E 42C5 563E DE2?5D 2E 2AAC@I:>2E6=J e]eT[ H9:=6 wt{~rD 2?5 @E96C =@2? EJA6D 4@>AC:D6 E96 C6>2:?:?8 a]aT]k^Am
k9am{@2? q2=2?46 s6=:?BF6?4J #2E6D Wb_Z s2JDX 3J {@2? %JA6k^9am
kAmk6>ms6=:?BF6?E >@CE8286 32=2?46D 92G6 366? 4@?D:DE6?E=J C:D:?8 27E6C 564=:?:?8 5FC:?8 r~'xsk^6>mk^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 H:5E9lQ`__TQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^5`IfB;dC=9a6`h]4=@F57C@?E]?6E^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^`_^_g`bdg`e^r92CEa0|@CE8286\s6=:?BF6?4J\#2E6D\b_\s2JD\3J\{@2?\%JA6]A?8Q ^mk^7:8FC6m
kAm$@FC46i r@?DECF4E:@? r@G6C286 2?2=JD:D @7 u656C2= #6D6CG6 q2?< @7 }6H *@C< 52E2 M x>286 rC65:Ei r@?DECF4E:@? r@G6C286k^Am
kAms2E2 7C@> E96 }6H *@C< u65 9:89=:89ED 9@H r~'xs\6C2 7:?2?4:2= 2DD:DE2?46 AC@8C2>D =:<6 =@2? 7@C362C2?46[ 5:C64E C6=:67 A2J>6?ED[ 2?5 6?92?465 F?6>A=@J>6?E 36?67:ED H@C<65 E@ DE2G6 @77 =@2? 56=:?BF6?4:6D] ~G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 a_a_ 2?5 a_a` H96? E96D6 AC@8C2>D H6C6 :? 67764E[ E96 A6C46?E286 @7 =@2? 32=2?46D 2E =62DE b_ 52JD 56=:?BF6?E 5C@AA65 E@ 9:DE@C:42==J =@H =6G6=D 24C@DD 2== >2;@C =@2? EJA6D] s6=:?BF6?E >@CE8286 32=2?46D[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ 6IA6C:6?465 2 DF3DE2?E:2= 5C@A 7C@> 2 AC6\A2?56>:4 C2E6 @7 b]d_T E@ 2 =@H @7 `]bhT :? "b @7 a_a`] $:>:=2C EC6?5D H6C6 @3D6CG65 7@C 4C65:E 42C5D[ 2FE@ =@2?D[ DEF56?E =@2?D[ 2?5 wt{~rD E@ G2CJ:?8 568C66D]k^Am
kAm&?7@CEF?2E6=J[ 2 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 6=6G2E65 :?E6C6DE C2E6D 2?5 E96 6?5 @7 >@DE 7656C2= 2?5 DE2E6\=6G6= 6?92?465 36?67:ED AC@8C2>D 92D =65 E@ :?4C62D65 7C6BF6?4:6D @7 >:DD65 A2J>6?ED[ 6DA64:2==J 7@C DEF56?E =@2?D] pD @7 pF8FDE a_ac[ E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@? 92D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]65]8@G^23@FE^?6HD^AC6DD\C6=62D6^FD\56A2CE>6?E\@7\65F42E:@?\368:?\7656C2=\DEF56?E\=@2?\4@==64E:@?D\@E96C\24E:@?D\96=A\3@CC@H6CD\86E\324<\C6A2J>6?EQm462D65 6?C@==>6?Ek^2m :? 2?J @7 E96 G2C:@FD DEF56?E =@2? C6A2J>6?E C6=:67 AC@8C2>D[ 2?5 E96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 %C62DFCJ 3682? ?@E:7J:?8 5672F=E65 3@CC@H6CD @7 E96:C C6A2J>6?E @AE:@?D—H9:49 4@F=5 =625 E@ H286 82C?:D9>6?E :7 =@2? 32=2?46D 2C6 ?@E C6A2:5—@? |2J d[ a_ad]k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 DEF56?E =@2? 56=:?BF6?4:6D D2H E96 >@DE 5C2>2E:4 D9:7E[ =@2? 32=2?46 56=:?BF6?4J C2E6D 7@C 2== >2;@C =@2? EJA6D 92G6 DFCA2DD65 AC6\A2?56>:4 =6G6=D] s6=:?BF6?E >@CE8286D 2C6 2=D@ @? E96 C:D6 56DA:E6 >2?J 9@>6@H?6CD 3FJ:?8 @C C67:?2?4:?8 367@C6 a_aa 2?5 =@4<:?8 :? =@H C2E6D] pD @7 "a a_ad[ E96 D92C6 @7 >@CE8286 32=2?46D @G6C b_ 52JD 56=:?BF6?E 92D C:D6? E@ b]egT]k^Am
k9amv6@8C2A9:4 s:776C6?46D :? |@CE8286 s6=:?BF6?4:6Dk^9am
kAmk6>m$@FE96C? DE2E6D 92G6 E96 9:896DE C2E6D @7 56=:?BF6?E >@CE8286Dk^6>mk^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 H:5E9lQ`__TQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^5`IfB;dC=9a6`h]4=@F57C@?E]?6E^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^`_^_g`bdg`c^r92CEb0v6@8C2A9:4\s:776C6?46D\:?\|@CE8286\s6=:?BF6?4:6D]A?8Q ^mk^7:8FC6m
kAm$@FC46i r@?DECF4E:@? r@G6C286 2?2=JD:D @7 r@?DF>6C u:?2?4:2= !C@E64E:@? qFC62F 52E2 M x>286 rC65:Ei r@?DECF4E:@? r@G6C286k^Am
kAm(9:=6 >@CE8286 56=:?BF6?4J C2E6D 2C6 @? E96 C:D6 ?2E:@?2==J[ E96 4@?46?EC2E:@? @7 56=:?BF6?E >@CE8286D G2C:6D D:8?:7:42?E=J 3J =@42E:@?] x? 86?6C2=[ 56=:?BF6?4J C2E6D E6?5 E@ 36 9:896DE :? 2C62D H:E9 9:896C =6G6=D @7 F?6>A=@J>6?E 2?5 A@G6CEJ[ =@H6C =6G6=D @7 :?4@>6[ 2?5 =@H6C AC@A6CEJ G2=F6D]k^Am
kAm#68:@?2==J[ DE2E6D :? E96 $@FE9 2?5 A@4<6ED @7 E96 t2DE r@2DE E6?5 E@ 92G6 E96 9:896DE 56=:?BF6?4J C2E6D] u@C 6I2>A=6[ {@F:D:2?2[ |:DD:DD:AA:[ 2?5 (6DE ':C8:?:2 2C6 E96 E@A E9C66 DE2E6D 7@C 3@E9 b_\52J 2?5 h_\52J >@CE8286 56=:?BF6?4:6D] ~E96C DE2E6D H:E9 9:89 C2E6D @7 >:DD65 A2J>6?ED :?4=F56 p=232>2 2?5 %6I2D] pE E96 @AA@D:E6 6?5 @7 E96 DA64ECF>[ E96 (6DE r@2DE 92D E96 =@H6DE D92C6 @7 >@CE8286D >@C6 E92? b_ 52JD 56=:?BF6?E[ H:E9 (2D9:?8E@?[ ~C68@?[ 2?5 r2=:7@C?:2 2== C6A@CE:?8 C2E6D @7 56=:?BF6?E >@CE8286D F?56C aT]k^Am
kAm$:>:=2C EC6?5D 9@=5 2E E96 =@42= =6G6= H:E9 >2;@C >6EC@A@=:E2? 2C62D :? E96 $@FE9—=:<6 $2? p?E@?:@[ |6>A9:D[ w@FDE@?[ 2?5 q:C>:?892>—C6A@CE:?8 9:89 C2E6D] #6D:56?ED :? (6DE r@2DE >6EC@D =:<6 $2? y@D6[ $2? uC2?4:D4@[ 2?5 $2? s:68@[ @? E96 @E96C 92?5[ 2C6 72C =6DD =:<6=J E@ >:DD 2 >@CE8286 A2J>6?E]k^Am
kAmw6C6 :D 2 DF>>2CJ @7 E96 52E2 7@C |2:?6ik^Am
kF=mk=:mkDEC@?8m!6C46?E286 @7 >@CE8286D b_Z 52JD 56=:?BF6?Eik^DEC@?8m a]hTk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m!6C46?E286 @7 >@CE8286D h_Z 52JD 56=:?BF6?Eik^DEC@?8m _]hTk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m&?6>A=@J>6?E C2E6ik^DEC@?8m b]aTk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m|65:2? 9@>6 G2=F6ik^DEC@?8m Sc`h[_bck^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m|65:2? 9@FD69@=5 :?4@>6ik^DEC@?8m Sfb[fbbk^=:mk^F=m
kAmu@C C676C6?46[ 96C6 2C6 E96 DE2E:DE:4D 7@C E96 6?E:C6 &?:E65 $E2E6Dik^Am
kF=mk=:mkDEC@?8m!6C46?E286 @7 >@CE8286D b_Z 52JD 56=:?BF6?Eik^DEC@?8m a]gTk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m!6C46?E286 @7 >@CE8286D h_Z 52JD 56=:?BF6?Eik^DEC@?8m _]gTk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m&?6>A=@J>6?E C2E6ik^DEC@?8m c]aTk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m|65:2? 9@>6 G2=F6ik^DEC@?8m Sbeg[dg`k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m|65:2? 9@FD69@=5 :?4@>6ik^DEC@?8m Sff[f`hk^=:mk^F=m
kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 2 56E2:=65 >6E9@5@=@8J[ 2?5 4@>A=6E6 C6DF=ED[ D66 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@?DECF4E:@?4@G6C286]4@>^C6D62C49^4:E:6D\H:E9\E96\>@DE\>@CE8286\56=:?BF6?4:6DQmr:E:6D (:E9 E96 |@DE |@CE8286 s6=:?BF6?4:6Dk^2m @? r@?DECF4E:@? r@G6C286]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.