US entry-level home prices rise 34% since 2019, doubling required income threshold

Median entry-level home values in the US have increased from USD 256,000 to 344,000 since 2019, while the income required to qualify for a mortgage has surged from USD 43,000 to 78,000. This shift reflects a significant deterioration in housing affordability, likely constraining household disposable income and long-term consumer spending capacity.