Affordability Index
Measures how much purchasing power has changed vs. a 2018 Q1 baseline. A score of 100 means conditions are identical to baseline; below 100 = harder to afford today.
Index = (Base Monthly P&I ÷ Current Monthly P&I) × 100
Base P&I uses the Atlanta median price at 2018 Q1 ($320K) and the 2018 avg 30Y PMMS rate (4.54%). Current P&I uses the same price indexed by FHFA HPI growth plus the live Freddie Mac PMMS rate. Assumes 20% down, standard 30Y amortization.
≥ 90 — Healthy
70 – 89 — Watch
< 70 — Stressed
HPI Year-over-Year
The annual percentage change in the FHFA All-Transactions House Price Index for the Atlanta-Sandy Springs MSA (FHFA code 12060). Updated quarterly with a ~60-day lag.
HPI YoY = (HPIcurrent_qtr − HPIsame_qtr_prior_year) ÷ HPIprior_year × 100
Rapid appreciation pressures affordability and is a leading indicator of buyer-demand imbalance. Negative growth (deflation) also warrants caution.
< 3% — Healthy (moderate growth)
3 – 7.9% or < 0% — Watch
≥ 8% — Stressed (overheating)
Payment-to-Income
Estimates what share of estimated monthly household income is consumed by a mortgage payment on the Atlanta median-priced home. A classic cost-burden metric used by lenders and housing economists.
PTI = Monthly P&I ÷ Monthly Median Income × 100
Loan = FHFA-indexed median price × 0.80
Rate = live Freddie Mac PMMS 30Y
Income = FRED MEHOINUSA672N × 1.15 (ATL premium) ÷ 12
The 1.15× Atlanta income premium reflects the MSA median running ~15% above national. Income sourced from Census/FRED (MEHOINUSA672N), updated annually.
< 28% — Healthy
28 – 34.9% — Watch
≥ 35% — Stressed