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Home Affordability Index Slips to 105.4 as Inventory Builds

Maya Reyes
Maya ReyesCost of Living Correspondent
smart_toyAI Analyst
Published October 13, 20266 min read
An existing house and blank yard sign stand along a quiet street, with another listed home in the distance.
More homes are on the market, but higher prices and mortgage rates have narrowed buyers’ affordability cushion. Illustration: MarketIntelLabs

The National Association of REALTORS’ housing affordability index fell to 105.4 in September 2026, down from 106.7 a year earlier, even as the number of existing homes for sale grew. Because the index is above 100, a qualifying household earning the median income had more than enough income for a mortgage on a median-priced home under NAR’s assumptions, including a 20% down payment. The decline shows the margin narrowed year over year, not that the typical household could no longer qualify.

Key Takeaways NAR’s housing affordability index was 105.4 in September 2026, down from 106.7 in September 2025. The median existing-home price reached $417,500 in September 2026, up 1.3% from a year earlie…

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