Were you planning to buy a home, but decided to hit pause?

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For the past few years, the math of buying a home in the United States has been tough: low inventory, high mortgage rates and record-high prices have made homeownership increasingly expensive.

Earlier this year, there was hope that the housing affordability picture might finally be improving. Mortgage rates briefly fell below 6% for the first time in three years, offering prospective buyers some relief. But that was short-lived. Rates have climbed steadily since the US began its war against Iran in February, with the average 30-year mortgage rate hitting the highest level of 2026 last week.

Signs suggest many Americans have stepped back from the housing market. In July, Redfin reported that home-showing activity was growing at a slower pace than it had been just one year earlier. In August, only 5.2% of consumers said they planned to buy a home within the next six months, according to the Conference Board – the lowest reading in five years.

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过去几年，在美国买房的难度越来越大：库存低、抵押贷款利率高、房价创历史新高，使得拥有住房的成本越来越高。

今年年初，人们曾寄希望于住房负担能力状况终于有所改善。抵押贷款利率三年来首次短暂跌破6%，给潜在购房者带来了一丝喘息之机。但好景不长。自美国2月份对伊朗发动战争以来，利率持续攀升，上周30年期抵押贷款平均利率达到了2026年以来的最高水平。

种种迹象表明，许多美国人已经退出了房地产市场。Redfin 7 月份的报告显示，房屋看房活动增速低于一年前。据美国经济咨商局 (Conference Board) 的数据，8 月份只有 5.2% 的消费者表示计划在未来六个月内购房，这是五年来的最低水平。