According to the National Association of Realtors’ research (http://alturl.com/aoxoj), the housing affordability index is now higher than it has ever been since the 1970’s. The index stands at about 175%, which means that a family with the median-income is earning 75% more than the minimum income required to purchase a median-priced home. The increase in affordability is mainly due to declining home prices and low interest rates. I think young families that have stable incomes should take advantage of this window of opportunity and buy their first homes now.