West coast leads the charge to most expensive markets ever

Analysis shows some markets are above their previous bubble levels

West coast leads the charge to most expensive markets ever

The challenge of affording to buy a home in the US have never been greater with prices outpacing incomes and some markets requiring homebuyers with six-figure incomes.

An analysis of the 50 largest US metro markets over the past 20 years by blockchain-powered real estate marketplace PropertyClub, shows that the salary needed to buy a single-family home is $48,150; and for a 1-bedroom apartment it’s $36,578.

During the last housing bubble of 2007-2008, the peak income requirements were $41,914 for a single-family home and $35,357 for a 1-bedroom apartment.


Source: PropertyClub Inc.

The west coast continues to be the region where home prices have been rising sharply, led by San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Between 1999 and 2019, single-family homes in San Francisco and Los Angeles have seen price increases of 304% and 275% respectively while single-family homes in Oakland have seen an increase of 337%.

Source: PropertyClub Inc.

Washington, DC leads the nation with a 412% rise over the past 20 years while New York City has seen a 225% increase.

Cleveland is the only city where single-family home prices are lower today than they were 20 years ago. It would only take approximately three years of savings to purchase a single-family home in the city.

Source: PropertyClub Inc.