The affordability/homeownership mismatch

In 2000: According to the Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), 7 out of 10 Twin Cities metro area residents making the local median income could have afforded a home sold in that year.

In 2006: While six years later, only 6 out of 10 Twin Cities metro area residents making the local median income could have afforded a home sold in that year.

During that same time homeownership rates increased by nearly 3%.

Looking at this mismatch, should we have known something wasn't quite right? Post a comment and tell us what you think.

About Visual Voice:
Thank you to Elissa Schloesser for designing the graphics for this blog posting. Elissa Schloesser is the president of Visual Voice. Visual Voice helps organizations visually synthesize complex information to make it meaningful to stakeholders, decision-makers and clients. Working with you to sort out and identify the critical pieces of information and key messages using sophisticated visual tools and contemporary design.

If you are interested in reading about Elissa's process for developing this graphic or for tips and ideas about how you can most effectively use your visual voice, check out the Visual Voice blog at www.myvisualvoice.com/blog.