Middle-Income Buyers Need Better Listing Fit

Even with inventory improving, entry-level and middle-market options remain the key unlock for households trying to match budgets with available homes.
A new alignment score compares homes for sale with local household incomes, showing whether listing prices fit the buyers in each market.
Restoring balance would require ~311K additional listings priced below $261K, giving middle-income buyers more options where affordability gaps remain most visible nationwide.
Economists emphasized supply is improving, but durable recovery depends on homes entering the market at price points buyers can realistically afford today.
A true recovery depends on more entry-level and middle-market homes, so buyers should watch fresh listings by price, not just inventory levels.