The U.S. Is 'One Of The Cheapest Countries On Earth To Buy A House,' Someone Pointed Out. It Could Get Much Worse If It Follows Global Trends

Core Insights - A recent Reddit discussion highlighted that the U.S. is among the most affordable countries for home buying, with a lower housing price to income ratio compared to many Western nations [1][2] Global Housing Trends - The U.S. ranks third globally in housing affordability by price-to-income ratio, with a ratio of 3.3, trailing only Oman and Saudi Arabia [3] - In contrast, countries like the U.K. (9.1), Canada (10.4), and Portugal (13.3) exhibit significantly higher ratios, indicating less affordability [3] - The discussion emphasized that while national averages suggest affordability, local markets, especially in major cities, can present extreme price-to-income ratios [4] Local Market Dynamics - An example from San Diego illustrates the disparity, where an average middle-class home costs $1.4 million, highlighting the challenges in urban areas [4] - Despite rising home prices, the original poster noted that U.S. housing remains cheaper than in many other countries, citing personal experience of purchasing a home for double the previous selling price [4] - Comparatively, countries like France (11.2), South Korea (20.7), and China (29.4) have much worse price-to-income ratios, with Syria at the bottom with a ratio of 112.2 [4]