The State of the Nation?s Housing 2017 shows increased stratification and affordability issues Surveying the state of the U.S. housing market in 2017, it?s hard to not come away with the impression that there are two markets. One, mostly coastal and urban, is seeing skyrocketing prices, tight inventory, and high demand. The other, also urban but increasingly suburban and rural, faces steep affordability problems, decreasing homeownership, and in extreme cases, a rise in concentrated poverty.
The State of the Nation?s Housing 2017, the annual report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, does make it clear that the nation?s housing market has, in many ways, bounced back from the massive impact of the Great Recession. Showing signs of health and increasing value, the revitalized market and recent upswing have been welcome news for the millions of homeowners who saw the value of their homes plummet. But along with signs of optimism, there?s still severe challenges to provide enough affordable rental units while offering more Americans a road to homeownership. The report suggests that, to meet the demand of adequate shelter for all Americans, the country need ?a renewed national commitment to expand the range of housing options available for an increasingly diverse society.? Here are some of the highlights of the newly released report.

Back to normal (if you?re not struggling to pay rent)

After years of slowly recovering from the Great ...