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.

The house price to rent ratio index in the U.S. declined since the second half of 2022, indicating that house price growth slowed down compared to rental growth. That was the first decrease after a long period of a steady increase. House prices increased dramatically since the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, rents have grown notably, but at a slower rate.What does the house price to rent ratio index measure?The house-price-to-rent-ratio measures the evolution of house prices compared to rents. It is calculated by dividing the median house price by the median annual rent. In this statistic, the values have been normalized with 100 equaling the 2015 ratio. Consequentially, a value under 100 means that rental rates have risen more than house prices. Compared to the OECD countries average, the gap between house prices and rents in the United States was wider. The house price to rent ratio in different countries The house price to rent ratio in the United Kingdom continued to increase in the second half of 2022, but growth softened, as the housing market cooled. On the other hand, the index in Germany fell drastically between the second quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2023. A similar trend was observed in France.

Rents in the United States declined year-on-year for the first time in June 2023, after surging for two years in a row. In November 2021, rents soared by over 18 percent annually — the highest increase on record, and in August 2022, the average rental price reached an all-time high of over 1,440 U.S. dollars. Rental growth has since mellowed, with January 2025 recording a decline of about 0.5 percent from the same period one year ago. Despite the softening of the market, many states still experienced rising rents.

Residential Water Softening Systems Market was valued at USD 7.07 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 19.90 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 13.8% from 2024 to 2031.

Global Residential Water Softening Systems Market Drivers

The market drivers for the Residential Water Softening Systems Market can be influenced by various factors. These may include:

Increasing Awareness of Water Quality: Consumers are becoming more aware of the impact of hard water on health and appliances. Awareness campaigns and information dissemination about the benefits of softened water can drive market growth.

Technological Advancements: Innovations in water softening technology, such as the development of more efficient and eco-friendly systems, make these solutions more appealing to consumers. Features like smart technology integration, for example, monitoring systems, remote operation via smartphone apps, and improved filtration efficiency, also attract customers.

Health Concerns: There is a rising concern about the potential health issues associated with hard water, such as skin irritations and adverse effects on hair health. This prompts households to invest in water softening systems.

Extended Appliance Lifespan: Hard water can cause scale buildup in plumbing and household appliances, leading to increased maintenance costs and reduced lifespan. Water softeners help in mitigating these issues, leading households to adopt these systems to protect their investments.

Improved Aesthetic Quality of Water: Hard water often causes issues like soap scum, spotting on dishes, and dingy laundry. The improvement in the aesthetic and functional quality of water with the use of softening systems is a significant driver.

Regulatory Initiatives and Incentives: Government regulations and incentives aiming to improve water quality may encourage the adoption of residential water softening systems. Rebates and tax incentives for utilizing efficient appliances can have a positive impact on market growth.

Rising Urbanization : The growing urban population increases the demand for effective water management solutions. With more people moving into urban areas where municipal water supplies may have issues with hardness, the market for residential water softening systems is likely to grow.

Sustainability Trends : There is a growing emphasis on sustainable living. Water softening systems that are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly find favor among eco-conscious consumers.

Economic Growth and Rising Disposable Income: As economies grow and disposable incomes rise, more people can afford to invest in home improvement products, including water softening systems.

Expansion of the Real Estate Market : The growth of the real estate market, particularly in emerging economies, leads to an increased demand for residential amenities, including water softening systems.

Since 2015, the gap between the cost of buying a home and renting has grown, with homeownership becoming increasingly less affordable. In the third quarter of 2024, the house price to rent ratio in the UK stood at 114.6. That meant that house price growth has outpaced rental growth by nearly 15 percent between 2015 and 2024. The UK's house price to rent ratio was slightly below the average Euro area ratio. House price to income ratio in the UK Another indicator for housing affordability is the house price to income ratio, which is calculated by dividing nominal house prices by the nominal disposable income per head. The ratio saw an overall increase between 2015, which was tthe base year, and 2022. After that, the index declined, but remained close to the average for the Euro area. Is it more affordable to rent or buy? There are many things to be considered when comparing buying to renting, such as the ability to qualify for a mortgage and whether prospective homebuyers have sufficient savings for a deposit. Generally, purchasing a home is more affordable than renting one. However, the average monthly savings first-time buyers can achieve have been on the decline. In East of England, where house prices have increased rapidly over the past few years, it was cheaper to rent than to buy in 2022.

As of the first quarter of 2022, the Indian office real estate market received 732 million U.S. dollars in investments. In the year 2021, the value of investments was around three billion U.S. dollars despite the prolonged pandemic. This was a significant increase compared to 2020 when investments had already dropped from their highest value in 2018.

An investor’s paradise

Commercial real estate is generally preferred over residential real estate by investors as the former offers higher rental yields. Within the commercial real estate sector, the office segment has emerged as the favorite among investors. Digitalization, policy support, lower interest rates, and growing consumer confidence are increasingly boosting investors’ interest in the segment. Additionally, softening of crypto and other financial markets, renewed interest in the real estate sector. The office sector is slowly recovering from a COVID-19-induced setback as a lot of companies are implementing back-to-office policies leading to growth in demand for office spaces and thereby, leading to an increase in absorption rates.

Investment outlook: The co-working sector 

The expansion of co-working spaces, once dominated by freelance professionals, SMEs, and start-ups, was one of the COVID-induced changes in the real estate market. As large corporates expand their ventures to newer markets and collaborate with co-working operators, there has been an increase in investment activity in the co-working sector. Angel investors, particularly, expect a high return on investment (ROI) from coworking spaces as compared to later-stage investors. With the introduction of real estate investment trusts (REITs) in India, the sector is expected to receive a boost