Is the Housing Market Broken — or Finally Returning to Normal
From Everyday Economics by The Center Square
May 10, 2026 · 12 min · Episode 544
About this episode
This episode discusses the current state of the U.S. housing market, exploring issues like rising inventory, softening prices, and the impact of high mortgage rates on homeowners and buyers.
In this episode of Everyday Economics, we break down the growing standoff in the U.S. housing market. Inventory is rising in some cities. Prices are softening. Mortgage rates remain high. And millions of homeowners are locked into ultra-low 3% mortgages they don’t want to give up. The result? A housing market that feels frozen — with buyers waiting for prices to fall and sellers refusing to move. 🏠 In this episode: 🔹 Why homeowners are becoming “accidental landlords” instead of selling 🔹 Whether the housing market is truly broken — or simply normalizing 🔹 Why affordability is slowly improving despite high mortgage rates 🔹 What cities like Austin, Raleigh, Phoenix, and San Antonio reveal about inventory and prices 🔹 Why more housing supply could still be the key to fixing affordability We also examine the debate around rising delinquencies, falling prices in some markets, and why economists say the biggest issue may not be demand — but the lack of homes actually available for sale. As always, Everyday Economics cuts through the headlines to explain what the latest housing data means for your wallet, your mortgage, and the future of homeownership in America.
People in this episode
Host: The Center Square
Topics covered
- housing market
- mortgage rates
- homeownership
- affordability
- inventory
- real estate
Keywords
- housing market
- mortgage rates
- homeownership
- affordability
- inventory
- real estate
- accidental landlords
- delinquencies
- prices
Mentioned in this episode
Places: U.S., Austin, Raleigh, Phoenix, San Antonio
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