The ability for a median-income earner to purchase the median-priced home also swings wildly from market to market in both countries, with the steepest affordability in the largest business centres; in fact, a recent study by
A Cross-Border Comparison <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To determine the level of affordability in each market, the study sourced December 2018 median home prices for 30 major U.S. markets and five Canadian, and calculated the minimum income required to purchase in each city. That amount was then compared to the actual median income earned, to determine whether the market presented buyers with an income surplus (when the median income is sufficient, or more than enough to purchase the median-priced home), or an income gap, which indicates incomes have not kept pace with real estate price growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the calculation, it was assumed a 20% down payment is made, and the mortgage is taken out over a 30-year timeline (per term for U.S. borrowers, and amortization for Canadian). U.S. affordability was calculated with a fixed mortgage rate of 4.5%, while 3.75% was used for Canadian borrowers, to reflect the average mortgage rate available to an applicant with good credit. Additional debt, taxes, insurance, heating, and other homeownership-related expenses were not included. Canadian dollar figures were then converted to U.S. dollars at an exchange rate of $1.33 CAD to $1.00 USD.
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The Least Affordable North American Markets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
According to the findings, the least affordable market was San Francisco, where a household earning the median of $96,265 finds themselves $140,003 short on the median-priced home valued at $1,360,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vancouver real estate<\/a>, Canada\u2019s most expensive housing market, places second overall in terms of unaffordability with an income gap of $74,825 ($99,517 CAD), compared to a median income of $49,118 ($65,327 CAD). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vancouver is followed on the list by Los Angeles, where the median income of $54,501 is $68,847 short of affording the median home price of $710,000. The most unaffordable U.S. markets are rounded out by San Jose, where buyers face an income gap of $63,166, based on a home price of $920,000 and earnings of $96,662. The title of most affordable American market goes to Oklahoma City, where home prices have remained lower than the national median, and incomes have more than kept pace; those earning the median of $51,581 make double of $25,200 required to purchase a home at $145,000, meaning buyers enjoy a surplus of $26,381. Toronto real estate<\/a>, the largest city in Canada, ranks 11th overall, with unaffordability on par with Miami: A Torontonian earning the median income of $49,495 ($65,829 CAD) faces a gap of $19,121 ($25,431 CAD), while households in the Florida city earning the median income of $33,999 fall $20,733 below what they\u2019d need to earn to qualify for a mortgage on the median-priced home. Out of all 35 North American markets included in the study, 18 are considered to face such an income gap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, three of the Canadian cities studied do fall within the realm of affordability, as do 14 American markets: Montreal, which ranks 20th on the list and is in line with Las Vegas and Philadelphia, enjoys an income surplus of $4,161, based on median household income of $46,459. Las Vegas and Philadelphia have income surpluses of $3,215 and $6,869, respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ottawa, the capital of Canada, was the 6th most affordable city in the study, with an income surplus of $16,326 ($27,714 CAD), based on the median income of $64,647 ($85,981 CAD). Buyers in Washington, D.C., on the other hand, face a gap of $26,595 between the median household income of $77,649 and the $104,244 income required to buy a median home priced at $600,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Calgary real estate<\/a> can be considered the most affordable of all the studied markets, with a whopping surplus of $30,298 ($40,297 CAD), and a median household income of $73,183 ($97,334 CAD).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out the infographic below to see how each U.S. and Canadian market ranks according to housing affordability (dollar amounts are in US dollars):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 \u2013 San Francisco, CA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Median home price: $1,360,000<\/p>\n\n\n\n Required income: $236,268<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actual median income: $96,265<\/p>\n\n\n\n Income gap: $140,003<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 \u2013 Vancouver, BC<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Benchmark home price: $869,211 ($1,156,050 CAD)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Required income: $123,943 ($164,844 CAD)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actual median income: $49,118 ($65,327 CAD)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Income gap: $74,825 ($99,517 CAD)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3 \u2013 Los Angeles, CA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Median home price: $710,000<\/p>\n\n\n\n Required income: $123,348<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actual median income: $54,501<\/p>\n\n\n\n Income gap: $68,847<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4 \u2013 San Jose, CA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Median home price: $920,000<\/p>\n\n\n\n Required income: $159,828<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actual median income: $96,662<\/p>\n\n\n\n Income gap: $63,166<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5 \u2013 Boston, MA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Median home price: $642,500<\/p>\n\n\n\n Required income: $111,624<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actual median income: $62,021<\/p>\n\n\n\n Income gap: $49,603<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 \u2013 Calgary, AB<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Median home price: $300,752 ($400,000 CAD)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Required income: $42,885 ($57,037 CAD)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actual median income: $73,183 ($97,334 CAD)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Income surplus: $30,298 ($40,297 CAD)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 \u2013 Oklahoma City, OK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Median home price: $145,000<\/p>\n\n\n\n Required income: $25,200<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actual median income: $51,581<\/p>\n\n\n\n Income surplus: $26,381<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3 \u2013 Columbus, OH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Median home price: $156,550<\/p>\n\n\n\n Required income: $27,204<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actual median income: $49,478<\/p>\n\n\n\n Income surplus: $22,274<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4 \u2013 Indianapolis, IN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Median home price: $154,900<\/p>\n\n\n\n Required income: $26,916<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actual median income: $44,709<\/p>\n\n\n\n Income surplus: $17,793<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5 \u2013 Charlotte, NC<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Median home price: $239,500<\/p>\n\n\n\n Required income: $41,616<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actual median income: $58,202<\/p>\n\n\n\n Income surplus: $16,586<\/p>\n\n\n\n Methodology<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Income gap or surplus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The income gap or surplus for each city is calculated as the difference between the actual median income of each city and the income required to purchase a median home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An income gap means the actual median income is less than the income required to afford the median home price, while an income surplus means that the actual median income is higher than the income required to afford the median home price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A larger income gap indicates a greater potential for unaffordability, while a larger income surplus indicates more affordability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Household incomes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Median household incomes for US cities were sourced from the United States Census Bureau. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Median household incomes for Canadian cities were sourced from Statistics Canada. The Canadian household incomes were converted to US dollars at an exchange rate of $1.33 CAD to $1.00 USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Income required for a home<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The annual income required to afford a home in each US city was based on each city\u2019s home price, a down payment of 20%, and a mortgage with a loan term of 30 years and an interest rate of 4.5%. Taxes, insurance, heating and other expenses or debts were not factored in the calculation. Calculations were based on Bankrate\u2019s affordability calculator at www.bankrate.com\/calculators\/mortgages\/new-house-calculator.aspx<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nMidwest, Northeast Home to Most Affordable U.S. Markets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
That’s followed by Colombus, where an income of $49,478 is more than adequate to purchase a $156,550 with $22,274 left over. Rounding out the top three most affordable markets is Indianapolis, where the median home goes for $154,900 – easily affordable on the median income of $44,709, resulting in a surplus of $17,793.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAffordability of Canadian Cities vs. US Cities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe 5 Least Affordable Housing Markets in Canada and the U.S.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The 5 Most Affordable Housing Markets in Canada and the U.S.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n