US homes hit record unaffordability for average Americans, CBS says
The report says the average U.S. home is now less affordable to the average American than at any other point on record, underscoring mounting housing pressure.
Fact Check
CBS News confirms US home prices are at an all-time high (June 2026) with the income needed to afford a home far exceeding median household income, and ATTOM confirms homes are less affordable than historic norms in 97% of counties. This strongly supports the claim that housing is at or near record unaffordability for average Americans. The 'at any point in history' absolute framing is somewhat overstated: CBS's own Redfin-based reporting notes affordability slightly improved from a mid-2025 peak (income needed fell from $122,000 to $116,780), suggesting the exact worst-ever point may have been mid-2025 rather than currently. The directional claim is accurate; the superlative is close but not precisely 'all-time worst' at this moment.
Summary
The average U.S. home has become more unaffordable to the average American than at any point in history, CBS reported. The milestone highlights the strain from elevated home prices and borrowing costs, which have combined to push ownership further out of reach for many households. The report frames the latest reading as a record in historical terms, signaling worsening affordability across the housing market.
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