Keeping It REAL - by Bettsy Tyler

  It's not easy being a first-time homebuyer right now. At the end of last year, housing affordability hit an all-time low. 1 Additionally, mortgage rates have risen significantly since 2021, while inventory remains tight for many property categories, but especially for starter homes. Even lower-priced condos are harder to snag these days, as investors and downsizers muscle out first-timers by offering stronger, often cash-heavy bids. 2 In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors, only 26% of last year's homebuyers were first-timers—the lowest share on record and down from 34% a year prior. This underscores just how steep a hill new buyers are facing. 3 As a result, many first-time homebuyers are finding that they need to get creative or risk renting for longer than they planned.   If you, too, are struggling to afford homeownership, here are some workarounds to consider as you plot your first home purchase. 1. Try House Hacking “House hacking” is a r