Methodology: Zillow Rent Forecast
The Zillow Rent Index estimates median rent for a geographical region on a monthly basis. The Zillow Rent Index forecast is our prediction of ZRI over the coming year.
The latest Zillow reading list features commentary on commentary on the unintended consequences of American homeownership policies, affordable housing and why, exactly, the rent is too damn high.
Why Getting a Mortgage Is Getting Harder for Borderline Borrowers (And Why It May Get Worse)
For the first time since 2012, getting a mortgage today is harder than it was a year ago, largely because lenders are raising the bar on what they think is a minimally acceptable credit score.
What Are Your Digits? U.S. Homeowners’ Awareness of Mortgage Interest Rates
The prospect of rising mortgage interest rates in coming weeks and months, however modest, is weighing on potential homebuyers currently in the market. But most existing homeowners have only a vague idea of the exact interest rate on their mortgage – if that.
As Fed Raises Interest Rates, Homebuyers’ Plans May Bend, But Not Break
Americans are broadly aware of these looming interest rate hikes, and they are certainly giving some would-be home buyers pause. For a few key demographic groups – including current renters and younger would-be buyers – rising interest rates could lead to changes in their home buying plans. But overall, a modest increase in mortgage interest rates is unlikely to completely de-rail most buyers’ plans.
The Big Push Happening in Seattle and San Francisco
Increasingly, lower-income workers in Seattle and San Francisco's downtown areas are finding themselves searching for affordable housing farther afield from downtown jobs centers.
Are Local Real Estate Bubble Markets Re-Emerging? Experts Agree to Disagree
The national housing market on the whole is expected to cool off in coming years, even as conditions in a handful of hot markets have some experts worried about local real estate bubbles. And there is no clear consensus on the extent of the national cool-down, or the potential timeline for local bubble risks.
Pay to Play: The Growing Footprint of Homeowner Association Fees
A steady increase in the share of U.S. homes that require monthly condo, mobile home or homeowner association fees (HOA) has important implications for the affordability of homes nationwide
Not a Stretch: Retirement Savings, Living Expenses & Cheap Housing
Looking to stretch your retirement savings? If you're willing to live frugally and in a city with inexpensive housing, you may be able to retire at age 40.
Housing in Alaska: Why America’s Last Frontier is Stuck in a Deep Freeze
As temperatures dip below zero and Alaskans prepare for 20-hour nights, the climate is not the only thing in a deep freeze across America’s last frontier: While housing markets in the lower 48 continue to recover strongly from the housing bust, the Alaskan housing market remains decidedly frigid.
