{"id":959760,"date":"2026-07-26T05:13:35","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T05:13:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/959760\/"},"modified":"2026-07-26T05:13:35","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T05:13:35","slug":"the-typical-us-home-now-costs-a-record-440660-and-many-americans-cant-keep-up-heres-how-some-buyers-are-adapting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/959760\/","title":{"rendered":"The typical US home now costs a record $440,660 \u2014 and many Americans can&#8217;t keep up. Here&#8217;s how some buyers are adapting"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>    <a href=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/D15B0C0380CD7A6F9772E4DF1D2CBFB83E88C9953D30055E6E88574097947B4A\/subgraphmysterio\/resizefit_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fmoneywise_ecomm_711%2Ff758ff2227111fbfbdd7a020a5cba2ac\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"A female runner, bent over with fatigue, looking on with disappointment.\" height=\"540\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-lf2kr7 loader\"\/><\/a> Photo by PeopleImages \/ Shutterstock           <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">The dream of homeownership continues to drift further out of reach for many Americans.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">The median price of an existing U.S. home reached a record $440,660 in June, according to new data from the National Association of Realtors (1) (NAR), marking the 36th consecutive month of year-over-year price growth.  <\/p>\n<p>            Must Read          <\/p>\n<ul class=\"yf-1jsc1up\">\n<li class=\"yf-1jsc1up\">\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">JPMorgan still sees gold hitting $5,000\/oz by Q4 \u2014 and savvy investors are protecting their wealth with a tax-advantaged Gold IRA. <a href=\"https:\/\/moneywise.com\/c\/1\/463\/2109?placement_syn=placement-one&amp;utm_source=syn_yahoofinance_mon_aff&amp;utm_medium=DL&amp;utm_campaign=206232&amp;utm_content=syn_5e0a480e-63fd-4349-b8f9-fa0872b5af63\" data-ylk=\"slk:Learn%20more%20with%20a%20free%20guide;elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;elmt:premonetized;pkgt:horizontal-editorial;subsec:commlist;source:content-canvas%20commlist\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Learn more with a free guide&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;affiliate_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;premonetized&quot;,&quot;yPackageType&quot;:&quot;horizontal-editorial&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;commlist&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas commlist&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:true}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Learn more with a free guide<\/a> from Priority Gold  <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">The latest milestone comes as a bipartisan housing affordability bill remains in political limbo, delaying reforms designed to boost housing supply and improve affordability.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">While the annual increase was a relatively modest 1.8%, economists say home prices continue to outpace wage growth, keeping pressure on prospective buyers.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">&#8220;Housing affordability remains low under slowing wage growth and stronger home price growth,&#8221; Ershang Liang, an economist with PNC Economics Research, said in a recent report cited by CBS News (2).  <\/p>\n<p>            Affordability pressures aren&#8217;t easing          <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">The latest figures highlight how difficult the housing market remains for first-time buyers.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">NAR reported the median price for an existing single-family home climbed to $446,400 in June, while condominiums and co-ops reached $380,000.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Prices also varied significantly across the country:  <\/p>\n<ul class=\"yf-1jsc1up\">\n<li class=\"yf-1jsc1up\">\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Northeast: $564,800  <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"yf-1jsc1up\">\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Midwest: $346,600  <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"yf-1jsc1up\">\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">South: $377,700  <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"yf-1jsc1up\">\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">West: $633,600  <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Although mortgage rates have eased somewhat (3) from their 2023 highs, elevated borrowing costs combined with years of home-price appreciation continue to stretch household budgets.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">According to LendingTree (4), fewer than four in 10 households that don&#8217;t already own a home can afford a typical starter home priced around $200,000. Separate research from Redfin (5) found households now need an annual income of roughly $117,000 to comfortably afford the average home, based on April 2026 data.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">&#8220;Without a doubt, affordability is a major challenge for people who want to become homeowners, which is the reason why we need more supply,&#8221; Lawrence Yun, NAR&#8217;s chief economist, told the Associated Press (6).  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">The housing market has remained sluggish since mortgage rates began climbing in 2022. Existing-home sales have hovered near multi-decade lows, even as NAR reported (7) modest year-over-year gains in recent months.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><strong>Read More: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/moneywise.com\/investing\/alternative-investments\/rich-young-americans?placement_syn=placement-two&amp;utm_source=syn_yahoofinance_mon_aff&amp;utm_medium=WL&amp;utm_campaign=206232&amp;utm_content=syn_ab4b3cb7-f1e4-4e11-9e2e-e122a9ad1f2b\" data-ylk=\"slk:Millionaires%20under%2043%20hold%20only%2025%25%20of%20their%20wealth%20in%20stocks.%20Here&#039;s%20where%20their%20money%20is%20actually%20going;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Millionaires under 43 hold only 25% of their wealth in stocks. Here&#039;s where their money is actually going&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><strong>Millionaires under 43 hold only 25% of their wealth in stocks. Here&#8217;s where their money is actually going<\/strong><\/a>  <\/p>\n<p>       Housing reform remains on hold         <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">At the time the housing data was released, lawmakers were awaiting the fate of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (8), which became law without President Donald Trump&#8217;s signature (9) after the 10-day constitutional review period expired.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">The bipartisan legislation would attempt to address several factors contributing to high housing costs by reducing regulatory barriers to construction, encouraging zoning reforms, expanding homebuilding and limiting institutional investors&#8217; ability to purchase single-family homes.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Today&#8217;s housing market doesn&#8217;t leave consumers with many easy answers.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">For prospective buyers priced out of homeownership, however, purchasing a primary residence isn&#8217;t the only way to gain exposure to real estate or potentially benefit from rising property values.  <\/p>\n<p>          Invest in residential real estate without buying a home         <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Owning a primary residence has traditionally been the default vehicle for building wealth, but with current barriers to entry at an all-time high, it&#8217;s not the only path.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Mogul is an investment platform that can get you started. It&#8217;s an option that offers <a href=\"https:\/\/moneywise.com\/c\/1\/467\/2055?placement=1&amp;utm_source=syn_yahoofinance_mon_aff&amp;utm_medium=DL&amp;utm_campaign=206232&amp;utm_content=syn_c8b807c0-520e-451e-a05d-786259eccaaa\" data-ylk=\"slk:fractional%20ownership%20in%20blue-chip%20rental%20properties;elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;elmt:premonetized;pkgt:horizontal-editorial;subsec:commlist;source:content-canvas%20commlist\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;affiliate_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;premonetized&quot;,&quot;yPackageType&quot;:&quot;horizontal-editorial&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;commlist&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas commlist&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:true}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties<\/a>, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits \u2014 without the need for a hefty down payment or 3 a.m. tenant calls.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Each property undergoes a vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10% to 12% annually. <a href=\"https:\/\/moneywise.com\/c\/1\/467\/2055?placement=2&amp;utm_source=syn_yahoofinance_mon_aff&amp;utm_medium=DL&amp;utm_campaign=206232&amp;utm_content=syn_5c62c623-a975-4095-9fa8-79bba16a434b\" data-ylk=\"slk:Offerings%20often%20sell%20out%20in%20under%20three%20hours;elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;elmt:premonetized;pkgt:horizontal-editorial;subsec:commlist;source:content-canvas%20commlist\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Offerings often sell out in under three hours&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;affiliate_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;premonetized&quot;,&quot;yPackageType&quot;:&quot;horizontal-editorial&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;commlist&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas commlist&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:true}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Offerings often sell out in under three hours<\/a>, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Every investment is secured by real assets, not dependent on the platform&#8217;s viability. Each property is held in a standalone Propco LLC, so investors own the property \u2014 not the platform. Blockchain-based fractionalization adds a layer of safety, ensuring a permanent, verifiable record of each stake.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Getting started is quick and easy. You can sign up for an account and then <a href=\"https:\/\/moneywise.com\/c\/1\/467\/2055?placement=3&amp;utm_source=syn_yahoofinance_mon_aff&amp;utm_medium=DL&amp;utm_campaign=206232&amp;utm_content=syn_443bae66-1249-4125-80b1-02d44942e6e7\" data-ylk=\"slk:browse%20available%20properties;elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;elmt:premonetized;pkgt:horizontal-editorial;subsec:commlist;source:content-canvas%20commlist\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;browse available properties&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;affiliate_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;premonetized&quot;,&quot;yPackageType&quot;:&quot;horizontal-editorial&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;commlist&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas commlist&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:true}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">browse available properties<\/a>. Once you verify your information with their team, you can invest like a mogul in just a few clicks.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">If you&#8217;re looking to explore even more ways to enter the real estate market, <a href=\"https:\/\/moneywise.com\/c\/1\/276\/1358?placement=4&amp;utm_source=syn_yahoofinance_mon_aff&amp;utm_medium=DL&amp;utm_campaign=206232&amp;utm_content=syn_6ae72af2-238b-4f75-8fda-24b63d2e9e71\" data-ylk=\"slk:Arrived;elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;elmt:premonetized;pkgt:horizontal-editorial;subsec:commlist;source:content-canvas%20commlist\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Arrived&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;affiliate_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;premonetized&quot;,&quot;yPackageType&quot;:&quot;horizontal-editorial&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;commlist&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas commlist&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:true}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Arrived<\/a> is another platform worth considering. It offers a similar path to real estate exposure through fractional ownership, allowing you to get started with a lower entry point.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Backed by world-class investors, including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to <a href=\"https:\/\/moneywise.com\/c\/1\/276\/1358?placement=5&amp;utm_source=syn_yahoofinance_mon_aff&amp;utm_medium=DL&amp;utm_campaign=206232&amp;utm_content=syn_d79b259e-182a-4176-a19d-fc552226ada8\" data-ylk=\"slk:invest%20in%20shares%20of%20vacation%20and%20rental%20properties;elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;elmt:premonetized;pkgt:horizontal-editorial;subsec:commlist;source:content-canvas%20commlist\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;invest in shares of vacation and rental properties&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;affiliate_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;premonetized&quot;,&quot;yPackageType&quot;:&quot;horizontal-editorial&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;commlist&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas commlist&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:true}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">invest in shares of vacation and rental properties<\/a>, earning a passive income stream without the extra work that comes with being a landlord.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">To get started, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/moneywise.com\/c\/1\/276\/1358?placement=6&amp;utm_source=syn_yahoofinance_mon_aff&amp;utm_medium=DL&amp;utm_campaign=206232&amp;utm_content=syn_9066045a-d3b4-4da9-88f3-4fcb572f8585\" data-ylk=\"slk:browse%20through%20their%20selection%20of%20vetted%20properties;elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;elmt:premonetized;pkgt:horizontal-editorial;subsec:commlist;source:content-canvas%20commlist\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;browse through their selection of vetted properties&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;affiliate_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;premonetized&quot;,&quot;yPackageType&quot;:&quot;horizontal-editorial&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;commlist&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas commlist&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:true}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">browse through their selection of vetted properties<\/a>, each picked for its potential appreciation and income generation and you can <a href=\"https:\/\/moneywise.com\/c\/1\/276\/1358?placement=7&amp;utm_source=syn_yahoofinance_mon_aff&amp;utm_medium=DL&amp;utm_campaign=206232&amp;utm_content=syn_771c3d0a-f018-431e-b9d6-a5707158456a\" data-ylk=\"slk:start%20investing%20with%20as%20little%20as%20%24100;elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;elmt:premonetized;pkgt:horizontal-editorial;subsec:commlist;source:content-canvas%20commlist\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;start investing with as little as $100&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;affiliate_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;premonetized&quot;,&quot;yPackageType&quot;:&quot;horizontal-editorial&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;commlist&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas commlist&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:true}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">start investing with as little as $100<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">While these fractional investment platforms offer an accessible entry point into real estate, some people simply dream of having their own home. If you&#8217;re still set on buying a property, navigating the market requires careful planning and the right tools.  <\/p>\n<p>          Compare mortgage rates before you buy         <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Home prices aren&#8217;t the only factor affecting affordability \u2014 your mortgage rate can have a major impact on your monthly payment.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Freddie Mac recommends shopping around and obtaining quotes from three to five lenders to <a href=\"https:\/\/moneywise.com\/c\/1\/33\/1938?placement=8&amp;utm_source=syn_yahoofinance_mon_aff&amp;utm_medium=DL&amp;utm_campaign=206232&amp;utm_content=syn_cb9478d4-ef11-4312-8c33-dcb737ee3c94\" data-ylk=\"slk:secure%20the%20best%20possible%20mortgage%20rate;elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;elmt:premonetized;pkgt:horizontal-editorial;subsec:commlist;source:content-canvas%20commlist\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;secure the best possible mortgage rate&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;affiliate_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;premonetized&quot;,&quot;yPackageType&quot;:&quot;horizontal-editorial&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;commlist&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas commlist&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:true}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">secure the best possible mortgage rate<\/a>. Even a small rate reduction can translate into significant savings over the life of a loan.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">To make this process easier, the <a href=\"https:\/\/moneywise.com\/c\/1\/33\/1938?placement=9&amp;utm_source=syn_yahoofinance_mon_aff&amp;utm_medium=DL&amp;utm_campaign=206232&amp;utm_content=syn_887f3dd1-bd5c-4e0f-a083-706d03c3d2f1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Mortgage%20Research%20Center%20(MRC);elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;elmt:premonetized;pkgt:horizontal-editorial;subsec:commlist;source:content-canvas%20commlist\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Mortgage Research Center (MRC)&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;affiliate_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;premonetized&quot;,&quot;yPackageType&quot;:&quot;horizontal-editorial&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;commlist&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas commlist&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:true}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Mortgage Research Center (MRC)<\/a> can help you quickly compare rates and estimated monthly payments from multiple vetted lenders.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">By entering basic details, such as your zip code, property type, price range and annual income, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/moneywise.com\/c\/1\/33\/1938?placement=10&amp;utm_source=syn_yahoofinance_mon_aff&amp;utm_medium=DL&amp;utm_campaign=206232&amp;utm_content=syn_bd404a9f-b36f-4ef1-8e81-f8bdcd4392df\" data-ylk=\"slk:view%20mortgage%20offers%20tailored%20to%20your%20needs;elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;elmt:premonetized;pkgt:horizontal-editorial;subsec:commlist;source:content-canvas%20commlist\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;view mortgage offers tailored to your needs&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;affiliate_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;premonetized&quot;,&quot;yPackageType&quot;:&quot;horizontal-editorial&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;commlist&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas commlist&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:true}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">view mortgage offers tailored to your needs<\/a> and shop with confidence.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Beyond navigating the market for a new purchase, current homeowners have their own strategic advantage. If you already own property, the recent surge in home values may have unlocked significant potential in your existing residence.  <\/p>\n<p>          Put your home equity to work         <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">If your home&#8217;s value has climbed substantially, you may have more equity than you realize.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">One way to easily tap into that liquidity is through a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC). It&#8217;s a revolving line of credit that leverages the equity in your home as collateral, so that you can borrow and repay funds as needed.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/moneywise.com\/c\/1\/236\/2076?placement=11&amp;utm_source=syn_yahoofinance_mon_aff&amp;utm_medium=DL&amp;utm_campaign=206232&amp;utm_content=syn_c9491729-005f-4579-a200-eb2cd0e134cc\" data-ylk=\"slk:AmeriSave;elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;elmt:premonetized;pkgt:horizontal-editorial;subsec:commlist;source:content-canvas%20commlist\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;AmeriSave&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;affiliate_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;premonetized&quot;,&quot;yPackageType&quot;:&quot;horizontal-editorial&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;commlist&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas commlist&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:true}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">AmeriSave<\/a> offers a flexible HELOC that lets homeowners borrow against their equity as needed during a draw period, making it useful for renovations or debt consolidation. The application is mostly online and available in most states.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">It&#8217;s a good fit for borrowers who want convenience and flexibility rather than a large lump-sum loan up-front.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">You can draw funds only when you need them, so it&#8217;s useful for ongoing or unpredictable costs. Interest is charged only on what you use and you repay the balance over time. It&#8217;s essentially a flexible credit line secured by your home, delivered through a mostly <a href=\"https:\/\/moneywise.com\/c\/1\/236\/2076?placement=12&amp;utm_source=syn_yahoofinance_mon_aff&amp;utm_medium=DL&amp;utm_campaign=206232&amp;utm_content=syn_d7cb3078-0e18-4f98-80b6-8ad1ad232152\" data-ylk=\"slk:online%20application%20process;elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;elmt:premonetized;pkgt:horizontal-editorial;subsec:commlist;source:content-canvas%20commlist\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;online application process&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;affiliate_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;premonetized&quot;,&quot;yPackageType&quot;:&quot;horizontal-editorial&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;commlist&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas commlist&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:true}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">online application process<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p>          You May Also Like                     <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise&#8217;s best stories and exclusive interviews first \u2014 clear insights curated and delivered weekly. <a href=\"https:\/\/moneywise.com\/subscription?placement_syn=placement-three&amp;utm_source=syn_yahoofinance_mon_aff&amp;utm_medium=WL&amp;utm_campaign=206232&amp;utm_content=syn_40aca1e8-8444-4d0f-a0df-1c53dfad1ec0\" data-ylk=\"slk:Subscribe%20now;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><strong>Subscribe now<\/strong><\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p>       Article Sources         <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our <a href=\"https:\/\/moneywise.com\/editorial-ethics-and-guidelines?utm_medium=WL&amp;utm_source=syn_yahoofinance_mon_aff&amp;utm_campaign=206232&amp;utm_content=syn_2d0bbf41-675f-427e-a0fe-f4ea40149750\" data-ylk=\"slk:ethics%20and%20guidelines;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;ethics and guidelines&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">ethics and guidelines<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">National Association of Realtors (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nar.realtor\/newsroom\/nar-existing-home-sales-report-shows-2-4-decrease-in-june\" data-ylk=\"slk:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">1<\/a>); CBS News (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/us-home-prices-all-time-high\/\" data-ylk=\"slk:2;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">2<\/a>); The Wall Street Journal (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/buyside\/personal-finance\/mortgage\/mortgage-rates-today-7-22-2026\" data-ylk=\"slk:3;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">3<\/a>); LendingTree (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingtree.com\/home\/mortgage\/starter-homes-study\/\" data-ylk=\"slk:4;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">4<\/a>); Redfin (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/income-needed-to-buy-home-declines\" data-ylk=\"slk:5;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">5<\/a>); Associated Press (<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/interest-rates-home-sales-923d018ff5a61b54b238838ce3a254a2\" data-ylk=\"slk:6;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;6&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">6<\/a>); Business Wire (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/news-release\/2026\/07\/09\/3324917\/0\/en\/nar-existing-home-sales-report-shows-2-4-decrease-in-june.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:7;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;7&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">7<\/a>); Congress.gov (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/house-bill\/6644\" data-ylk=\"slk:8;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;8&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">8<\/a>); National Low Income Housing Coalition (<a href=\"https:\/\/nlihc.org\/resource\/trump-cancels-signing-bipartisan-21st-century-road-housing-act-following-passage-senate\" data-ylk=\"slk:9;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;9&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">9<\/a>)  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Photo by PeopleImages \/ Shutterstock Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":959761,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[12],"tags":[64,79,148641,8165,8166,337111,4061,14606,138874,11408,277,67,132,68],"class_list":["post-959760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-economy","tag-business","tag-economy","tag-gold-ira","tag-housing-affordability","tag-housing-market","tag-housing-supply","tag-jeff-bezos","tag-mortgage-rates","tag-nar","tag-national-association-of-realtors","tag-trump","tag-united-states","tag-unitedstates","tag-us"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116984572182965461","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/959760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=959760"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/959760\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/959761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=959760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=959760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=959760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}