A recent analysis by Zillow reveals that the affordability of typical U.S. homes has declined significantly since 2020. In 2020, a household earning the median income could afford a typical home, but as of 2025, buyers would need an additional $17,670 in annual income to meet affordability standards. The median-priced home currently costs approximately $367,969, requiring a salary close to $100,000 to comfortably cover mortgage payments, assuming a 20% down payment of about $73,594. Furthermore, data indicates that buyers now need to earn around $127,000 to afford monthly mortgage payments on a median-priced home, up from $79,000 in 2021. This income requirement exceeds the current median household income of roughly $84,000, highlighting a growing gap between earnings and housing costs. Of the nation's 46 million renters, only 6 million earn enough to meet this threshold, underscoring challenges in mortgage qualification for many Americans.