Seattle #7 least affordable, receives “D” grade in new study

Seattle is the seventh least affordable housing market in the country, according Interest.com, the research arm of Bankrate.com.

According to the report, Seattle received a “D” grade in 2014, a tad better than its “D-minus” in 2013. Its median household income was listed at $67,479 and the median home price at $357,400. Median property taxes were $3,408 and homeowner’s insurance $627.

A “D” grade means the median-income family can only afford a home that costs about 80 percent of the median price.

A median-income household can only afford a median-priced home in 10 of the 25 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, according to the Interest.com report.

That’s actually an improvement from last year, when the median-income household fell short in all but eight of the 25 metros.

Overall, median home prices rose six percent over the past year in the 25 metro areas, while incomes rose by about two percent. Contrary to most expectations, mortgage rates eased a bit, which provided homeowners with some relief.

“Low mortgage rates are helping home affordability to some extent, but the key ingredient – which has been missing to this point – is substantial income growth,” according to Mike Sante, managing editor of Interest.com. “Millennials, in particular, are struggling to overcome their student loans and save enough money for a down payment.”