Affordable Home Prices
In line with the lending industry's standards, the National Association of Home Builders considers a home affordable when no more than 28 percent of a family's gross income is spent on housing costs. So not only can more American families afford their mortgage payments, they can also afford their living expenses, with money left over for savings and debt repayments―good news for the economy.

Is Now the Best Time to Buy a Home?
The 2011 first-quarter results best the previous high of 73.9 percent, reached during the fourth quarter of 2010. In comparison, the HOI rarely topped 65 percent prior to 2009 and never made it past 70 percent. Today's high HOI is mainly caused by historically low interest rates and housing prices. But once the housing market rebounds and interest rates climb, the HOI should start to sink, making 2011 the perfect time to buy a home.