>> AFFORDABILITY IS FRONT AND CENTER IN WASHINGTON, D. C. RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MEETING WITH NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ELECT ZORAN MAD MONEY LAST WEEK.BUT OUR NEXT GUEST SAYS THAT DESPITE THIS RENEWED FOCUS, AFFORDABILITY IS A PROBLEM THAT JUST CAN'T BE SOLVED. GREG IP IS THE WALL STREET JOURNAL'S DEPUTY ECONOMICS EDITOR AND CHIEF ECONOMICS COMMENTATOR. STEVE LIESMAN, BY THE WAY, IS BACK WITH US FOR THIS CONVERSATION AS WELL.BUT, GREG, WELCOME. IT'S IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU THIS MORNING. YOUR ...

Core Insights - The current housing market is characterized by high interest rates, low inventory, and intense bidding wars, which have made it challenging for first-time buyers [1] - Many potential buyers are waiting for a more stable market, but this hesitation could lead to significant financial losses [1] Group 1: Reasons for Hesitation - Common reasons for delaying home purchases include waiting for interest rates to drop, concerns about housing prices, saving for a larger down payment, and hoping for more inventory options [7] Group 2: Financial Implications of Waiting - Experts warn that waiting to buy a home can be costly, as even small increases in prices or interest rates can lead to substantial monthly payment increases [4] - A case study illustrates that clients who delayed their purchase saw their monthly payments rise significantly due to increased interest rates, with one example showing an increase of approximately $1,200 per month [6]

Housing Market Analysis - Real housing prices, when priced in gold, haven't significantly increased in recent decades [1] - The core issue is the decline in real wages for young people [1] - Offshoring and immigration have contributed to decreased housing affordability [1]

Housing Market Analysis - Real housing prices, when priced in gold, haven't significantly increased in recent decades [1] - The core issue is the decline in real wages for young people [1] - Offshoring and immigration have contributed to decreased housing affordability [1]

Retirement Planning - The Midwest offers attractive retirement destinations due to low cost of living [1] - Affordable housing prices are a key factor in the Midwest's retirement appeal [1] Lifestyle & Amenities - Retirement in the Midwest provides access to amenities and cultural activities [1]

Market Trends - The UK housing market is not collapsing, but not soaring [1] - Sellers are accepting that peak prices are in the past [1] - Life is getting a little easier for buyers in the UK housing market [1]

Core Viewpoint - The American Dream is perceived as increasingly unattainable, with nearly 70% of respondents believing it "no longer holds true or never did," marking the highest level of skepticism in the survey's 15-year history [1] Group 1: Pessimism Across Demographics - The pessimism regarding the American Dream spans across political, class, and demographic lines, with similar views reported by men and women, young and old, and across income levels [2] - A significant political divide exists, with 55% of Republicans expressing negative views compared to 90% of Democrats [2] Group 2: Economic Sentiment and Future Outlook - Only 25% of respondents feel they have a good chance of improving their standard of living, a record low in the 38-year history of the study, and over 75% doubt life will improve for the next generation [4] - Despite the discontent, 44% of respondents felt positive about the economy, an increase from 38% in 2024 [5] Group 3: Economic Indicators - The median home price has increased by 532% from $63,900 in 1979 to $403,800 in 2025 [5] - Wages for middle-income earners have only grown by 6% since 1979 [5] - The wage gap has widened, with CEOs now earning 296 times what a typical worker makes, up from 30 times in 1979 [5] - Inflation rates have been significant, with rates of 7% in 2021 and 6.5% in 2022 impacting household budgets [5] - The consumer price index indicates inflation at 2.7% [5] - Americans have reached record credit card debt levels of $1.21 trillion in 2024 [5] - The unemployment rate stands at 4.3% as of August 2025, which is considered a healthy level [5]

Retirement Planning - The Midwest offers attractive retirement destinations due to a low cost of living [1] - Affordable housing prices are a key factor in the Midwest's appeal for retirees [1] - Retirement in the Midwest provides access to amenities and cultural activities [1]

Market Trends - First-tier cities' new commercial housing sales prices decreased by 0.1% MoM, with the decline narrowing by 0.1 percentage point [1] - Shanghai increased by 0.4% MoM, while Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen decreased by 0.4%, 0.2%, and 0.4% respectively [1] - Second-tier cities' new commercial housing sales prices decreased by 0.3% MoM, with the decline narrowing by 0.1 percentage point [1] - Third-tier cities' new commercial housing sales prices decreased by 0.4% MoM, with the decline expanding by 0.1 percentage point [2]

Housing Market Trends - China's 70 major cities saw a 2.8% year-over-year decrease in new home sales prices in July [1] - This represents a slight improvement compared to the 3.2% year-over-year decrease in June [1] - Month-over-month, new home sales prices in these cities decreased by 0.3% in July, consistent with the 0.3% decrease in June [1] - For the first seven months of the year (January to July), new home sales prices in these cities decreased by 4.5% year-over-year [1]