In 2021, Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED), in partnership with Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh(URA), completed the a Market Value Analysis (MVA) for Allegheny County. This analysis services as both an update to previous MVA’s commissioned separately by ACED and the URA and combines the MVA for the whole of Allegheny County (inclusive of the City of Pittsburgh). The MVA is a unique tool for characterizing markets because it creates an internally referenced index of a municipality’s residential real estate market. It identifies areas that are the highest demand markets as well as areas of greatest distress, and the various markets types between. The MVA offers insight into the variation in market strength and weakness within and between traditional community boundaries because it uses Census block groups as the unit of analysis. Where market types abut each other on the map becomes instructive about the potential direction of market change, and ultimately, the appropriateness of types of investment or intervention strategies.

This MVA utilized data that helps to define the local real estate market. The data used covers the 2017-2019 period, and data used in the analysis includes:

• Residential Real Estate Sales
• Mortgage Foreclosures
• Residential Vacancy
• Parcel Year Built
• Parcel Condition
• Building Violations
• Owner Occupancy
• Subsidized Housing Units

The MVA uses a statistical technique known as cluster analysis, forming groups of areas (i.e., block groups) that are similar along the MVA descriptors, noted above. The goal is to form groups within which there is a similarity of characteristics within each group, but each group itself different from the others. Using this technique, the MVA condenses vast amounts of data for the universe of all properties to a manageable, meaningful typology of market types that can inform area-appropriate programs and decisions regarding the allocation of resources.

Please refer to the presentation and executive summary for more information about the data, methodology, and findings.

The average sales price of new homes in the United States experienced a slight decrease in 2024, dropping to 512,2000 U.S. dollars from the peak of 521,500 U.S. dollars in 2022. This decline came after years of substantial price increases, with the average price surpassing 400,000 U.S. dollars for the first time in 2021. The recent cooling in the housing market reflects broader economic trends and changing consumer sentiment towards homeownership. Factors influencing home prices and affordability The rapid rise in home prices over the past few years has been driven by several factors, including historically low mortgage rates and increased demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the market has since slowed down, with the number of home sales declining by over two million between 2021 and 2023. This decline can be attributed to rising mortgage rates and decreased affordability. The Housing Affordability Index hit a record low of 98.1 in 2023, indicating that the median-income family could no longer afford a median-priced home. Future outlook for the housing market Despite the recent cooling, experts forecast a potential recovery in the coming years. The Freddie Mac House Price Index showed a growth of 6.5 percent in 2023, which is still above the long-term average of 4.4 percent since 1990. However, homebuyer sentiment remains low across all age groups, with people aged 45 to 64 expressing the most pessimistic outlook. The median sales price of existing homes is expected to increase slightly until 2025, suggesting that affordability challenges may persist in the near future.

Key information about House Prices Growth

• US house prices grew 5.2% YoY in Sep 2024, following an increase of 6.2% YoY in the previous quarter.
• YoY growth data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1992 to Sep 2024, with an average growth rate of 5.5%.
• House price data reached an all-time high of 17.7% in Sep 2021 and a record low of -12.4% in Dec 2008.

CEIC calculates House Prices Growth from quarterly House Price Index. Federal Housing Finance Agency provides House Price Index with base January 1991=100.

About 20 percent of home buyers in the United States in 2021 purchased homes that cost 500,000 U.S. dollars or more. The share of home buyers generally reduced as the house prices decreased. The largest share of purchases fell in the 200,000 to 249,999 and 250,000 to 299,999 price classes, which was below the national average sales price for existing homes.

As of October 2021, approximately 6.3 percent of homes in the United States were valued at between 100,000 and 124,999 U.S. dollars. Approximately one percent of homes were valued at one million U.S. dollars or more.

The U.S. housing market has slowed, after 13 consecutive years of rising home prices. In 2021, house prices surged by an unprecedented 18 percent, marking the highest increase on record. However, the market has since cooled, with the Freddie Mac House Price Index showing more modest growth between 2022 and 2024. In 2024, home prices increased by 4.2 percent. That was lower than the long-term average of 4.4 percent since 1990. Impact of mortgage rates on homebuying The recent cooling in the housing market can be partly attributed to rising mortgage rates. After reaching a record low of 2.96 percent in 2021, the average annual rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage more than doubled in 2023. This significant increase has made homeownership less affordable for many potential buyers, contributing to a substantial decline in home sales. Despite these challenges, forecasts suggest a potential recovery in the coming years. How much does it cost to buy a house in the U.S.? In 2023, the median sales price of an existing single-family home reached a record high of over 389,000 U.S. dollars. Newly built homes were even pricier, despite a slight decline in the median sales price in 2023. Naturally, home prices continue to vary significantly across the country, with West Virginia being the most affordable state for homebuyers.

House Price Index YoY in the United States remained unchanged at 4.80 percent in January. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United States FHFA House Price Index YoY.

Graph and download economic data for Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States (MSPUS) from Q1 1963 to Q4 2024 about sales, median, housing, and USA.

Key information about House Prices Growth

• Peru house prices grew 7.0% YoY in Dec 2021, following an increase of 13.4% YoY in the previous quarter.
• YoY growth data is updated quarterly, available from Dec 2008 to Dec 2021, with an average growth rate of 9.6%.
• House price data reached an all-time high of 49.2% in Mar 2009 and a record low of -5.7% in Dec 2017.

CEIC calculates House Prices Growth from quarterly Average House Prices per Square Meter. The Central Reserve Bank of Peru provides Average House Price per Square Meter in local currency. House Prices Growth covers Lima Metropolitan only.

The number of home sales in the United States peaked in 2021 at almost seven million after steadily rising since 2018. Nevertheless, the market contracted in the following year, with transaction volumes falling to 4.8 million. Home sales remained muted in 2024, with a mild increase expected in 2025 and 2026. A major factor driving this trend is the unprecedented increase in mortgage interest rates due to high inflation. How have U.S. home prices developed over time? The average sales price of new homes has also been rising since 2011. Buyer confidence seems to have recovered after the property crash, which has increased demand for homes and also the prices sellers are demanding for homes. At the same time, the affordability of U.S. homes has decreased. Both the number of existing and newly built homes sold has declined since the housing market boom during the coronavirus pandemic. Challenges in housing supply The number of housing units in the U.S. rose steadily between 1975 and 2005 but has remained fairly stable since then. Construction increased notably in the 1990s and early 2000s, with the number of construction starts steadily rising, before plummeting amid the infamous housing market crash. Housing starts slowly started to pick up in 2011, mirroring the economic recovery. In 2022, the supply of newly built homes plummeted again, as supply chain challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic and tariffs on essential construction materials such as steel and lumber led to prices soaring.

Graph and download economic data for All-Transactions House Price Index for California (CASTHPI) from Q1 1975 to Q4 2024 about appraisers, CA, HPI, housing, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Key information about House Prices Growth

• Australia house prices grew 6.6% YoY in Sep 2024, following an increase of 6.7% YoY in the previous quarter.
• YoY growth data is updated quarterly, available from Sep 2004 to Sep 2024, with an average growth rate of 6.0%.
• House price data reached an all-time high of 24.1% in Dec 2021 and a record low of -6.1% in Mar 2019.

CEIC calculates quarterly House Price Index Growth from quarterly Residential Dwellings: Mean Price of Eight Capital Cities. The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides Residential Dwellings: Mean Price of Eight Capital Cities in local currency. House Price Index Growth prior to Q3 2012 is calculated from Residential Property Price Index: Weighted Average of Eight Capital Cities.

Key information about House Prices Growth

• Thailand house prices grew 8.5% YoY in Sep 2021, following an increase of 4.9% YoY in the previous month.
• YoY growth data is updated monthly, available from Mar 2009 to Sep 2021, with an average growth rate of 5.7%.
• House price data reached an all-time high of 20.2% in Dec 2009 and a record low of -6.1% in Dec 2020.

The Bank of Thailand calculates House Price Growth from Condominium Price Index with base 2009=100. House Prices Growth covers Bangkok and Vicinities only.

Key information about House Prices Growth

• Morocco house prices grew 0.8% YoY in Dec 2024, following a decrease of 0.4% YoY in the previous quarter.
• YoY growth data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2007 to Dec 2024, with an average growth rate of 0.3%.
• House price data reached an all-time high of 7.6% in Mar 2017 and a record low of -6.0% in Dec 2021.

Property Price Index is calculated following the repeat-sales method which takes into consideration only properties sold at least twice during the period under review.

Housing Index in Sweden decreased to 942 points in the fourth quarter of 2024 from 943 points in the third quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - Sweden House Price Index - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The majority of home buyers in the United States in 2021 purchased homes that cost 500 thousand U.S. dollars or more. Homes over 500 thousand U.S. dollars were purchased by 22 percent of buyers from the 42 to 56 age group who made up the largest share of buyers in that category.

Graph and download economic data for All-Transactions House Price Index for Michigan (MISTHPI) from Q1 1975 to Q4 2024 about MI, appraisers, HPI, housing, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

The U.S. mortgage market has declined notably since 2020 and 2021, mostly due to the effect of higher borrowing costs on refinance mortgages. The value of refinancing mortgage originations, amounted to 86 billion U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2024, down from a peak of 851 billion U.S. dollars in the fourth quarter of 2020. The value of mortgage loans for the purchase of a property recorded milder fluctuations, with a value of 291 billion U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2024, and a market peak of 477 billion U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2022. According to the forecast, mortgage lending is expected to slightly increase until the end of 2025. The cost of mortgage borrowing in the U.S. Mortgage interest rates in the U.S. rose dramatically in 2022 and continued to increase in 2023. In 2020, a homebuyer could lock in a 30-year fixed interest rate of under three percent, whereas in 2023, the average rate for the same mortgage type exceeded seven percent. That has led to a decline in homebuyer sentiment, and an increasing share of the population pessimistic about buying a home in the current market. The effect of a slower housing market on property prices and rents According to the S&P/Case Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, housing prices experienced a slight correction in early 2023, as property transactions declined. Nevertheless, the index continued to grow in the following months. On the other hand, residential rents have increased steadily since 2000.

Median price paid for residential property in England and Wales, by property type and administrative geographies. Annual data.