The AEI housing arbitrage index aims to measure the extent of how much money an individual could save by selling a home in their current location and moving to another. The data for the index are based on actual homeowners who have sold one home and purchased a home at a new address...

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Dr. Perry shared that she is “excited” about these programs as a start but mentions that we still have a challenge of the high prices of homes on the market, and the scarce supply of units, thus making getting a mortgage still a barrier to achieving the ultimate home ownership dream.

The Housing Center of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) has created this unique Walkable Oriented Development Map

At the heart of the crisis is a self-imposed shortage of land. “California has made buildable land artificially scarce by putting so much of that resource off limits,” notes Pinto. “The state and towns have imposed the nation’s thickest web of rules to block new construction.” It takes roughly ten years for developers to win approval from towns and environmental authorities for new subdivisions within 50 miles of the coast. For the inland areas, the timeline is more like five years. “

So far, America faces nothing resembling an outright crash. But for the average homeowner, it will hardly bring cheer that the closer they get to the holidays, the more they’ll be watching the value of their cherished ranches and colonials fade.

While in the midst of the most rapid slowdown in Home Price Appreciation (HPA) since the bust of 2007-2011, demand pull inflation continues to exert a strong influence on general inflation.

“We owe it to our children and grandchildren to squarely address the growing housing affordability crisis that has already reached acute stages in California and has spread to many other parts of the nation,” says Housing Center Director Ed Pinto. “These supply deficiencies stifle economic growth and opportunity while creating a worse future for our nation.”

Relatively low historical nominal rates (5.54% as of 7.25.22) and negative inflation adjusted real rates, along with supply constraints, a home equity wealth effect from monetary stimulus, and the Work from Home revolution will continue to fuel historically high HPA until later this year.

The real estate market continue to transform, but there will always be a need for affordable housing. It is imperative that real estate professionals help all consumers enjoy the ability to own real estate.