{"id":62742,"date":"2026-03-27T07:54:44","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T07:54:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/how-are-people-affording-houses-in-todays-market-10-expert-backed-tips-for-buyers\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T07:54:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T07:54:44","slug":"how-are-people-affording-houses-in-todays-market-10-expert-backed-tips-for-buyers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/how-are-people-affording-houses-in-todays-market-10-expert-backed-tips-for-buyers\/","title":{"rendered":"How are people affording houses in today&#8217;s market? 10 expert-backed tips for buyers."},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->It takes a little moxie to buy a home these days \u2014 home prices remain elevated, and mortgage rates are on their way back up. Yet homes are still selling, and plenty of buyers are finding a way in. In fact, experts say we\u2019re currently experiencing a buyer\u2019s market. So how are people actually affording houses right now?<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"CDS Widget\" src=\"https:\/\/templates.cds.yahoo.com\/remote\/widget?campaignId=4ec2331a-fbb0-4230-81e2-d38f75a95135&amp;lineItemId=867c829f-5f8c-4ed1-bc7b-38baea21bc32&amp;contentId=095cad10-d23d-43f1-a89a-383750b05feb&amp;viewId=BNCkr744lytRyV2DFLPjIA&amp;providerId=yahoo_personal_finance_397&amp;site=finance&amp;spaceId=1183300100&amp;commerceSiteId=us-finance-pnr&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Ffinance.yahoo.com%2Fpersonal-finance%2Fbanking%2Farticle%2Fhow-are-people-affording-houses-in-todays-market-195928862.html\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"480\" data-testid=\"iframe-with-resizer\" class=\"yf-16wd5dt\"><\/iframe> <\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Here\u2019s a closer look at the strategies and financial trade-offs helping buyers make homeownership work in today\u2019s market.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Adjustable-rate mortgages are gaining popularity.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;You can get an ARM loan for typically 50 to 100 basis points lower in rate, with a fixed rate and payment for five, seven, or 10 years before the first payment adjustment,&#8221; Scott Bridges, chief consumer direct lending production officer at Pennymac, told Yahoo Finance. &#8220;That gives you a long window to have a lower rate, a lower payment, and the ability to refinance to a fixed-rate loan when rates drop.&#8221;<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Real estate data company Cotality said that the share of ARMs is especially gaining in higher-priced real estate markets, and in luxury and high-end housing sectors.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;Even after mortgage rates eased from 7% to below 6.5% in early 2025, ARMs\u2019 momentum didn\u2019t slow. They actually gained ground, making up nearly 21% of the market \u2014 their highest share in three years,&#8221; Archana Pradhan, Cotality\u2019s principal economist, said in an analysis.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;For many, choosing an ARM is less about preference and more about necessity \u2014 a bridge to affordability that comes with the expectation of refinancing or managing higher payments in the future,&#8221; Pradhan added.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->New home builders are known for offering rate buydowns to buyers. However, you may find lenders offering them as well.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;Many lenders also offer buydown options, which generally means you can lower the rate by 1% for the first year of the loan, for a fee,&#8221; Bridges noted. \u201cSo, 6.25% is really 5.25% for the first year. That gives both rate and payment relief in year one, which is helpful given the costs associated with buying a new home in the first year.\u201d<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->New home buyers may not know all their options when it comes to low- or no-down-payment home loans.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Down payment assistance can come in many forms \u2014 from government agencies, local organizations, and mortgage lenders \u2014 particularly for first-time buyers. In fact, the average down payment benefit totals $18,000, according to Down Payment Resource.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->New rules governing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored companies that provide capital to the housing market, will help some home buyers lower their costs.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->The ruling will reduce home insurance bills for families in rural areas or those buying a condo.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;The changes include more flexible insurance requirements, which may help some communities regain eligibility for conventional mortgages,&#8221; Dawn Bauman, CEO of Community Associations Institute, told Yahoo Finance. \u201cThis can make condos more accessible to buyers who previously faced limited financing options due to strict insurance standards.&#8221;<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Sure, it&#8217;s not an easy ask, but nearly one-quarter (23.8%) of young home buyers received some financial help from their family to buy a house, according to Redfin. Almost 21% got a cash gift from a relative to help with the down payment.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Another family-oriented housing solution: multi-generation homes. Realtor.com estimates that 17% of homes purchased in 2024 were households with more than one generation \u2014 an all-time high.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;Gen-X buyers, often referred to as &#8216;the sandwich generation&#8217; in the housing market, have increased their share of this market from 12% in 2013 to 21% today,&#8221; the report cited.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;Bricks and sticks&#8221; single-family housing is not your only choice for a first-time home. Alternative homes come in an assortment of configurations: condominiums, co-ops, townhouses, duplexes, accessory dwelling units, tiny homes, manufactured, and mobile homes. Even homes with friends sharing ownership.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->The median list price for a mobile home in February was $141,450, down 5.7% year-over-year, reports Realtor.com.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;While the broader market remains a challenge for many, the mobile home sector is currently offering one of the most efficient entry points into the market,&#8221; Joel Berner, senior economist at Realtor.com, said. &#8220;Mobile homes offer a unique opportunity to build equity with a significantly lower monthly housing payment.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><em>Read more: <\/em><em>Chattel loans: How to finance your manufactured or tiny home<\/em><!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->As buyers&#8217; markets become more prevalent, you&#8217;ll be able to do something that&#8217;s been off the table for a few years: haggle. Active listings are up, homes are staying on the market longer, and the median listing prices are falling, according to Realtor.com. Buyers scored a nearly 8% discount off list price in 2025, and one-quarter of buyers got price cuts of 10% or more \u2014 the highest discounts in 13 years, according to Redfin.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Ask your real estate agent to negotiate and secure the best possible deal.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Home affordability improves with a higher credit score. Focus on building your credit profile by always paying your bills on time, reducing debt, and keeping credit card balances low.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><em>Read more: <\/em><em>10 tips to improve your credit score in 2026<\/em><!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<figure data-testid=\"article-figure-image\" class=\"yf-750ceo\">\n<div class=\"image-container yf-lglytj\" style=\"--max-height: 346px;\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapper yf-lglytj\" style=\"--aspect-ratio: 960 \/ 346; --img-max-width: 960px;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/tRuFCiB5RtSp03URlGp1mg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTM0Ng--\/https:\/\/d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net\/images\/user-uploaded\/my_money_3823.png\" alt=\"My money banner\" loading=\"eager\" height=\"346\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-lglytj  loaded\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"yf-750ceo\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->My Money<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Finally, Scott Bridges at Pennymac urges prospective home buyers &#8220;to stay in the hunt.&#8221;<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->He said that &#8220;a rate of 6.25% may lead some to believe they are priced out of the market. However, 6.5% is approximately the 20-year historical average. The probability of us ever seeing the pandemic rates of 2.5-3.5% is remote at best.&#8221;<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->He concluded with a little advice.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;You marry the house and date the rate. And if you are like most borrowers, you will end up refinancing more than once in the years to come.\u201d<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It takes a little moxie to buy a home these days \u2014 home prices remain elevated, and mortgage rates are on their way back up. Yet homes are still selling, and plenty of buyers are finding a way in. In fact, experts say we\u2019re currently experiencing a buyer\u2019s market. So how are people actually affording [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":121,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_daextam_enable_autolinks":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[10],"tags":[5991,5989,3508,636,40,20,266,5992,5990,5988],"class_list":["post-62742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-news","tag-archana-pradhan","tag-buyers-market","tag-fixed-rate","tag-housing-market","tag-mortgage-rate","tag-mortgage-rates","tag-mortgages","tag-new-home-buyers","tag-payment-adjustment","tag-scott-bridges"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/8a0cdc30-4dea-11f0-853b-6352d2a30cb4.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62742","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62742"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62742\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}