Part 5/9:

Housing prices have risen to levels that are simply unsustainable for many, with experts highlighting a worrying trend: as the cost of housing rises, the percentage of income necessary for home ownership has created a staggering affordability gap estimated to be at 49%. This crisis is compounded by rising interest rates, which only add to the already burdensome costs of home ownership and maintenance.

Relationships between current monetary policy and housing affordability reveal a system that increasingly skews toward favoring the affluent. College-educated young families, graduates, and entry-level workers alike often find themselves priced out of home ownership, trapped in a cycle of rental payments that do not lead to equity or financial stability.