I’m a Real Estate Agent: These 5 Cities Are Becoming Unaffordable
Housing affordability has been a growing issue across the country for years, with higher interest rates making already expensive homes even farther out of reach for many.
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According to the latest analysis of ATTOM, a provider of property data, an annual salary of $75,000 is needed to be able to afford a typical home in more than half of nearly 600 US markets it analyzed for affordability. In its report released in June 2023, it found that the most unaffordable counties to purchase a home were concentrated on the California coast and in Manhattan.
In New York County, an annual wage of more $383,000 is needed to afford a typical home. Areas surrounding San Francisco are close behind, where annual salaries of around $350,000 are needed to live in places like San Mateo, Santa Clara and Marin County. Across California, 35 cities in the state have an average price of over $1 million, according to SmartAsset. Palo Alto, the most expensive market in SmartAsset’s rankings, boasts average home prices of $3.2 million.
Often what these locales have in common are a combination of factors including low inventory coupled with high demand due to quality-of-life standards and strong job markets for skilled, well-paying jobs. For real estate agents in markets like these, it has become challenging serving clients of limited means.
“As a licensed real estate broker with 17 years of experience, I’ve witnessed the dream of homeownership fade into a distant dream for many aspiring buyers in the face of skyrocketing prices,” said Teddi Schill, founder of Raleigh Area Property Group in North Carolina.
“The consequences of this crisis are far-reaching, impacting not just individuals but entire communities,” Schill said. “The lack of affordable housing contributes to economic inequality, social mobility barriers and disenfranchisement among those priced out of their neighborhoods.”
GOBankingRates reached out to real estate agents in some of the most out-of-reach markets to find out more.
Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts
Oak Bluffs is a town on the island of Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts and is accessible only by ferry or air. Grace Hagerty, principal broker and owner of Hagerty Real Estate, says that the island’s reputation as an exclusive destination attracts affluent buyers willing to pay a premium for luxury homes and waterfront properties.
With an average home value of $1.1 million, a recent snapshot of homes for sale in Oak Bluffs listed on Zillow bottomed out at $798,000 for a 700-square-foot cottage, to more than $11 million.
“Oak Bluffs, like all other towns on island, have strict zoning regulations and a commitment to preserving its historic charm. This results in limited opportunities for new housing developments and drives up prices on existing homes,” Hagerty said.
“Job opportunities on Martha’s Vineyard, including Oak Bluffs, are often seasonal and tied to the tourism industry. This makes it challenging for year-round residents to afford homes, as they face seasonal employment fluctuations,” Hagerty said. “While there have been efforts to create affordable housing solutions on the island, the demand for such housing often exceeds the supply, making it difficult for many people to find affordable options.”
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San Francisco, California
Rory Donadio, CEO of Tribeca Capital Group LLC, works in the San Francisco area, where the median price of a home now exceeds $1.3 million.
“This escalation in prices has been driven by a combination of factors including limited housing supply, high demand due to the tech industry boom, and geographical limitations that prevent sprawling development,” Donadio said.
“The cost of living also ranks among the highest in the country, making it even more challenging for people to save for a down payment. This affordability crisis has led to a stark income inequality, with a widening gap between the tech affluent and the rest of the population. The high prices are pushing out middle- and low-income residents, contributing to an increase in homelessness and an exodus to more affordable areas.”
San Diego, California
California’s southern gem has long been known for its unaffordability.
“Even by California standards, San Diego is notoriously unaffordable both in terms of home prices and cost of living,” said Peter Evering, business development manager at Utopia Property Management. “There’s an inside joke here in our San Diego office that living is cheaper anywhere than here in San Diego. And it’s true.”
Typical San Diego home values are over $955,000. Homes priced at $500,000 or less, Everling said, usually are less than 1,000 square feet. He added that rent prices are also sky-high, with the average rent for apartments hovering at $3,000 for an average size of just 870 square feet.
“Not even the temporary exodus of renters during the height of the pandemic put a dent in the rent here, and now that people are coming back, things are only going to get worse,” he said.
Sagaponack, New York
In this small village in the Hamptons, the median home list price in February 2024 was over $8,000,000, making it one of the most expensive zip codes in the country.
Sagaponack “has become a summer playground for the wealthy and famous,” said Zach Shelley, founder and CEO of A-List Properties in Dallas.
“Its beautiful beaches, luxurious homes and proximity to New York City make it a highly desirable location for wealthy individuals looking for a retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life,” Shelley said.
Just 4.5 square miles, this enclave has a year-round population of only about 350 people, while its part-timers reportedly include celebrities like Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon. Sagaponack is also somewhat notoriously home to one of the largest single-family homes in the country: a 100,000-square-foot estate belonging to billionaire businessman, Ira Rennert.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Realtor Latham Jenkins of Live Water Jackson Hole called this Wyoming hot spot, “one of the most expensive gateway communities in the country.” With breathtaking scenery and wild-west allure, median list prices are close to $1.5 million for homes here.
“This is because less than 3% of Teton County’s 2.7 million acres are privately owned,” Latham said. “Jackson Hole is nestled in a valley surrounded by protected lands, restricting the expansion of the town. Everyone wants a piece of the pie, but there’s only so much pie to go around,” he said.
Once a rugged cowboy town, Jackson Hole has become a magnet for celebrities, executives and luxury-seekers, Latham said. “As demand from this demographic increases, so do property values. It’s not just a house; it’s a status symbol.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I’m a Real Estate Agent: These 5 Cities Are Becoming Unaffordable
