Americans report worsening finances at 25-year high

3 articles · Updated · The Real Deal · May 5

The poll found 55% say their finances are getting worse, with cost of living, energy bills and higher petrol prices after the Iran conflict driving concern.
The sour mood is spilling into housing: 30% of non-homeowners expect to buy within five years, down from 41% in 2013.
Affordability remains the main reason renters stay put, while rising inventory is cooling home price expectations and could reinforce broader market weakness ahead of the midterm elections.

With wages projected to outpace home prices, is record financial pessimism an overreaction or a sign of deeper economic fractures?

Millions of homeowners are 'locked-in' by low mortgage rates. What will it take to finally break the housing inventory gridlock?