'An increase in median home prices year over year': Austin set to become most expensive place to live outside of California

The city of Austin, Texas is fast becoming the most expensive place in the U.S. to own a home outside of California.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN | BY ANDY NGHIEM • AUG 23, 2021
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The city of Austin, Texas is fast becoming the most expensive place in the U.S. to own a home outside of California.

An affordability analysis report by Zillow shows that Austin is currently the seventh least affordable city in the U.S. and is projected to become the most expensive metropolitan city outside of California by the end of the year, according to KVUE News.

“Austin, Texas, will become the least affordable major U.S. city by December for homebuyers, if you take all California locations out of the equation,” Ratner Property Management wrote in an Aug. 15 Twitter post.

The analysis suggests if current trends continue, Austin homeowners will spend just over 30% of their household’s monthly income on mortgage by the end of the year. Anything above 30% is considered “housing burdened.”

KXAN News reports that while Austin is currently still more affordable than markets in Miami, Seattle and New York City, Zillow projects all three typically expensive markets will be under the 30% mark by the end of the year.

“We have seen an increase in median home prices year over year, in the 30 to 40% range across our region,” Jeni Williams, Austin Board of Realtors government affairs deputy director said, according to KXAN News.

Even if mortgage rates stay the same, Austin-area mortgage rates would still rise to $3,021 a month, according to Zillow. 

THE CITY OF AUSTIN | BY ANDY NGHIEM • AUG 23, 2021