WWH

A few years ago, most homebuyers never thought to ask, “Is there a data center nearby?” They asked about schools, commute times, property taxes, flood zones, and maybe the nearest grocery store. A warehouse-like building full of servers did not usually make the checklist. That is changing. Data centers are showing up in more communities across the country, and their growth is starting to matter in real estate conversations. According to Realtor.com, only about a dozen ZIP codes had a large...

Buying a home in the U.S. now takes a much bigger slice of income than it did before the pandemic. Home prices have climbed sharply, mortgage rates remain far above recent lows, and many buyers are trying to make the math work in markets where listings are still scarce. According to Redfin data referenced in the brief, the average homebuyer needs to spend nearly 40% of income on housing today. In the most expensive states, that figure is even higher. California, Montana, and New York top the...

Buying a home in the priciest parts of the U.S. now requires a level of income that feels out of reach for many local households. In several states, a typical monthly housing payment takes up close to half of the median household income. That is the central affordability problem in 2026. Home prices surged after the pandemic, mortgage rates remain much higher than they were a few years ago, and inventory is still tight in many desirable markets. Even where incomes are high, housing costs have...