<p>Rocket Companies Inc., in partnership with Redfin, has released a new analysis showing that Americans now need to earn $111,252 per year to afford the typical U.S. home—a figure that is 46.3% higher than the $76,020 required to afford the average rental. This marks the smallest gap between buying and renting costs in three years. The report highlights that while homeownership remains significantly less affordable than renting, the disparity is narrowing due to recent declines in mortgage rates and a slowdown in home price growth. The analysis also notes regional differences, with the smallest rent-versus-buy gap found in cities like Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and Cleveland, where median home prices are under $300,000. Despite these improvements, the income needed to buy a home still exceeds the U.S. median household income by roughly $25,000. The report suggests that if current trends continue, both buying and renting could become more affordable in the coming year. Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Rocket Companies Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief via Business Wire (Ref. ID: 20260211981437) on February 11, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. © Copyright 2026 - Public Technologies (PUBT)</p>

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Homebuyers Need $35,000 More Than Renters as Affordability Gap Shrinks, Rocket Reports