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The report matters for mortgage pros because it frames affordability as a local supply story, not just a rates-and-income story.
Realtor.com Research published its homebuilding affordability metro report cards on September 16, 2026, examining how metro areas compare on homebuilding and housing affordability. The report, titled “Metro Report Cards: Top and Bottom of the Class for Homebuilding and Affordability,” says the challenges facing prospective buyers are not uniform across the country.
For mortgage professionals, that is the part worth paying attention to. The report’s summary ties stronger homebuilding performance to more affordable options for buyers, while markets struggling to add inventory remain harder for many households to access.