CBRE: Homeownership Slips Out of Reach for 1.8 Million More U.S. Renters Amid High Mortgage Rates and Home Prices

DALLAS—High mortgage rates and elevated home prices have pushed homeownership further out of reach for an additional 1.8 million U.S. renter households, according to a new CBRE analysis released on Sept. 15. A growing affordability gap means these households can no longer afford a median-priced home in their market, a trend that has accelerated over the past five and a half years, the commercial brokerage firm stated.

The growing financial gap between renting and owning is keeping more households in the rental market, which continues to drive strong demand for multifamily housing. CBRE forecasts that multifamily occupancy rates will remain above historical averages for years to come. This ongoing supply-demand imbalance is expected to support near-term rent growth, underscoring the critical role the multifamily sector plays in addressing the nation’s housing needs.

The Widening Gap Between Renting and Owning

While home prices have stabilized or declined slightly in some U.S. markets, they remain unaffordable for many households. Nationally, the average cost of owning a home is now $4,643 per month—more than double the average monthly rent of $2,228. This equates to a 108% premium for owning versus renting. Although this is down from a peak of 128% in late 2023, it remains well above the pre-pandemic average of 68%.

The New York market’s buying premium was 117% with a new mortgage payment of $7,888 versus the multifamily effective rent of $3,639 as of the second quarter of this year.

The share of renters who can afford a median-priced home has dropped sharply, falling to 12.7% from 17.0% in 2019. Upfront costs are a major barrier: a 20% down payment on a median-priced home now equals approximately four years of average apartment rent. In high-cost markets like Orange County, CA that figure can rise to eight years or more.

Markets Most Affected

The affordability gap is most pronounced in major metros like Boston and Washington, D.C., which have seen the largest increases in renter households priced out of homeownership. Other major cities, including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, as well as fast-growing Sun Belt cities like Tampa, Austin, Phoenix, Orlando and Atlanta have also seen sharp declines in affordability due to rising home prices and population growth.

“For many Americans, renting is the most financially viable and flexible housing option,” said Matt Vance, Americas Head of Multifamily Research for CBRE. “Closing the affordability gap between renting and homeownership will require a combination of declining home prices, lower interest rates, rising incomes, and strong rent growth. This will take years to play out. In the meantime, we expect elevated multifamily occupancy rates to persist as the rental market continues to meet the demand for housing.”