# US housing affordability and mobility crisis > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-housing-affordability-and-mobility-crisis > Updated: 2026-09-21T04:48:47.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2. The United States housing market is characterized by a significant crisis of mobility and affordability. Homeowners are increasingly reluctant to relocate due to being locked into low-interest mortgages, resulting in a historic low in mobility where only about 7% of households plan to move within a year. This lack of movement has shifted consumer behavior toward home renovations as residents seek to modernize or expand their existing properties. This mobility paralysis is compounded by a widening affordability gap. Estimates suggest that over 75% of homes are unaffordable for the typical household, as median home prices approach $400,000 while median household incomes remain significantly lower. The impact is particularly visible among first-time buyers, whose share of home sales has dropped from 50% in 2010 to 24% in 2025. As high prices and mortgage rates prevent families from upgrading to larger residences, there is a growing reliance on self-storage units. Searches for these facilities increased by approximately 25% across 150 major U.S. cities in 2025, with many Americans using them as ‘extra closets’ to manage limited space in their current homes. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-21: U.S. housing affordability crisis drives rise in self-storage use High U.S. home prices and mortgage rates have made over 75% of homes unaffordable for typical households, driving a 25% increase in self-storage searches as families struggle with limited space. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-housing-affordability-crisis-drives-rise-in-self-storage-use ### 2026-09-07: US real estate market faces mobility crisis The US housing market faces a mobility crisis as homeowners stay put to keep low mortgage rates, driving a surge in home renovations instead of new property transactions. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-real-estate-market-faces-mobility-crisis --- Cite as: US housing affordability and mobility crisis. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-housing-affordability-and-mobility-crisis