In 2019, the typical home in St. Louis cost about $815 a month. Today, it's $1,584. Home prices went up 28%. The monthly payment went up 94%. And household income didn't come close to keeping up. So can Americans still afford to buy a house? Or is homeownership quietly turning into a luxury? In this episode, Sam and Lucas run the actual numbers on housing affordability across America. They compare St. Louis to Kansas City, Dallas–Fort Worth, Denver, and San Diego, break down what's really happening to the housing market, and explain why an unaffordable market doesn't mean prices are about to crash. Then they cover where the opportunities are for real estate investors right now. 🚀 GET THE INFINITE RENTAL SYSTEM — Buy your first (or next) rental with none of your own money → https://rentals.fasterfreedom.com 📖 In this episode you'll hear: ✅ What our first homes cost compared with what they'd cost today ✅ Why the monthly payment matters more than the price of the house ✅ How St. Louis compares to Kansas City, Dallas, Denver, and San Diego ✅ Why mortgage payments nearly doubled while home prices rose 28% ✅ Why homeowners with 3% mortgages refuse to sell ✅ Why unaffordable doesn't mean prices are about to crash ✅ What we're seeing firsthand at FasterHouse in the $150K–$250K market ✅ Where the opportunities are for investors in rentals, flips, wholesaling, and creative financing ✅ Our predictions for mortgage rates and home prices in 2027 ✅ Would we buy our first home today, or wait? THE ST. LOUIS AFFORDABILITY MATH: 🏠 2019 → $815/month, 14.7% of household income 🏠 2026 → $1,584/month, 23.8% of household income The American Dream of homeownership isn't dead. But the math behind it has changed dramatically. Whether you're buying your first house or your fiftieth rental, understanding that math matters more than ever. FREE RESOURCES + LINKS MENTIONED: 🚀 The Infinite Rental System — Sam's step-by-step system to buy your first (or next) rental in 6 months with none of your own money. Lifetime access. → https://rentals.fasterfreedom.com 🏦 FasterFreedom Capital — Short-term, long-term, and gap funding for real investors → https://www.fasterfreedomcapital.com 🏠 RE Launch Free Community — Weekly coaching, deal reviews, and community support → https://www.skool.com/relaunch/about 📊 RealBooks — The bookkeeping software built specifically for real estate investors. Get 30% off + a free trial → https://realbooks.io/fasterfreedom/?utm_source=faster-freedom&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=tof_all_30-off-free-trial_us_202606 📱 FOLLOW SAM: @samfasterfreedom 📱 FOLLOW LUCAS: @lucasfasterfreedom 🎙️ ABOUT THE FASTERFREEDOM SHOW: Hosted by Sam Primm and Lucas. Sam and Lucas own $40 million in real estate and have closed over 2,000 deals, all built using other people's money. Every week, they break down the actual strategies for using real estate to build wealth on a normal income. No fluff. No hype. Just the truth about how to escape the W-2 grind and build lasting financial freedom. Mortgage payments are estimates based on 20% down and a 30-year fixed rate (3.64% in 2019, 7.40% in 2026), principal and interest only. Figures are approximate and for educational purposes. #HousingAffordability #HousingMarket #MortgageRates #FirstTimeHomeBuyer #StLouisRealEstate #RealEstateInvesting #SamPrimm #FasterFreedom #AmericanDream #RealEstate2026