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For loan officers, the story is a reminder that the borrower’s real payment is bigger than principal, interest and the rate quote.
HousingWire put property taxes and housing affordability in the spotlight on Aug. 26, 2026, publishing an article titled “Property taxes are the housing affordability crisis no one wants to touch.” The piece argues that while mortgage rates get most of the attention, property taxes quietly raise the monthly housing payment and can remain a burden long after the mortgage is gone.
That matters for mortgage professionals because borrowers do not experience affordability as separate line items. They experience one payment, often with principal, interest, taxes, insurance and escrow bundled together, and a tax bill that moves higher can change the whole conversation around qualification, comfort and long-term retention.