• U.S. housing affordability remains strained, with the home-price-to-income ratio at 4.75, down from its 2022 peak of 5.81.
• All 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas exceeded the 2.6 affordability threshold as of early 2026.
• An estimated 65% of U.S. households cannot afford a median-priced new home.
• First-time buyers accounted for 21% of purchases in 2025, down from 44% in 1981.
• Among renter households, 49.7% spend more than 30% of income on housing, highlighting affordability pressures beyond homeownership.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Fold Holdings Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 28, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.