Americans are living through the toughest housing market in a generation and, for some young people, the quintessential dream of owning a home is slipping away.

Mortgage rates surged in recent years, hitting the highest levels in more than two decades last fall. While rates have come down slightly since then, home prices remain painfully elevated and a limited inventory of housing is still failing to keep up with demand. Such conditions mean that housing has become woefully unaffordable.

Falling mortgage rates in recent weeks have helped, but home prices could remain sticky, according to economists. It’s still a cruddy time to be hunting for a home, but it’s even worse for young, first-time buyers who need to save up for a down payment and build up their credit score during a time when Baby Boomers are refusing to part with their big houses.

The situation isn’t a whole lot better for renters, with rents barely coming down from record highs and half of tenants in that market saying they can’t even afford their payments.

The uneasiness over America’s affordability crisis is captured clearly in surveys and polls, but data that outlines the sentiment specifically among young people is limited.

  • maness300@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Have you considered moving somewhere where demand is lower and supply is higher?

    These would result in cheaper prices, but you’ll have to get over your entitlement.

    • Seleni@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      People can’t move for a variety of reasons. Job. Family. Plus it costs a shit ton to move sometimes, especially if you’re moving far away. Seems like you’re the one being entitled. ‘Just move!’ has big ‘if they don’t like the country, they should just leave!’ energy.

      Also, often there’s a lot of availability and cheap houses in certain places because the local economy is shit and so there aren’t any jobs.

      • Killing_Spark@feddit.de
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        9 months ago

        The sheer “entitlement” of

        • Not wanting to lose social network
        • Not wanting to lose a job
        • Not being able to pay double rent + deposit + moving costs all in the same timeframe

        The “just move” crowd is so weird to me.

          • Killing_Spark@feddit.de
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            9 months ago

            The whole point is that “just move” is certainly not a silver bullet, it should not be a thing at all, and it can be literally impossible for some people. What we need is rules against people being extortet out of their money via rent. Because that is what “not being able to afford” a place that you could afford previously is.

      • maness300@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Seems like you’re the one being entitled. ‘Just move!’ has big ‘if they don’t like the country, they should just leave!’ energy.

        You’re just assuming that the only viable solutions are easy ones.

        Also, often there’s a lot of availability and cheap houses in certain places because the local economy is shit and so there aren’t any jobs.

        Then how do people live there? You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about.

        • Seleni@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          Um, most don’t? That’s why housing is plentiful and cheap? Because most people there can’t afford it? Or have left for places that actually have jobs?

          Seems you’re assuming that moving is the easy solution. And again, no, that’s not always true. Why is that so hard for you to accept?

          • maness300@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            Seems you’re assuming that moving is the easy solution.

            No, you just assume that the only viable solutions are easy ones.

            Keep waiting around for other people to solve your problems for you.