Low housing prices still problematic for young buyers

Money can be hard to come by for young Americans, as one in five is unemployed. And those graduating from college have an average debt of $25,000. On top of that, starter jobs are difficult to find and don't pay well, according to Reuters.

But homes are more affordable than they have been in the past 40 years, according to the National Association of Realtors. Interest rates are lower than 4 percent for 30-year fixed-rate homes. The NAR's Housing Affordability Index — which measures median income against mortgage rates and home prices — has reached record levels and that means now is a good time for consumers to get a home, according to the article.

Median down payments were approximately 22 percent in 2011, according to Zillow, an online real estate marketplace. That's about double the rate from three years prior, according to Reuters. This means consumers looking to buy a home need to come up with more money for the down payment than in previous years.

Click to read the entire article at Reuters.

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