Real local data for 195 metros.
Select a metro above to see your results
The housing market in 2026 is defined by a single tension: mortgage rates near 6.5% have made monthly payments significantly higher than during the pandemic buying frenzy, but home prices in most markets haven't dropped enough to compensate. The result is that 155 of 195 US metros are showing housing stress.
But "should I buy" is fundamentally a local question. Topeka, KS (stress: 18) is genuinely affordable. Asheville, NC (stress: 60) is not. That's why this calculator uses real data for your specific metro.
Most mortgage calculators show you principal and interest. That's roughly 60-70% of your actual monthly cost. The rest is property tax and insurance, which vary dramatically by location. The same $400K home costs $600/mo more in Texas (2% property tax) than in Hawaii (0.28%). Our calculator uses full PITI with county-level tax rates.
In 2026, some markets are actively correcting. Austin is down 5.4% from last year. In these markets, waiting six months could save you $20-40K. Our "Cost of Waiting" section uses actual local price trends. When prices are falling, we tell you.
Select your metro to auto-populate real market data. Enter your income, debts, and current rent. The calculator tells you: whether you can afford the median home, how rate changes affect your payment, whether waiting saves or costs you money, when buying breaks even vs renting, and whether local conditions favor buyers or sellers. For deeper analysis, click through to the full city reports.
Not financial advice. Consult a mortgage professional. Data from FRED, Zillow, Redfin, BLS, Freddie Mac. Updated daily at crashwatch.live.