• 历经多年抵押贷款利率上升和房价飙升之后，许多年轻买家已被挤出市场。然而，由业主委员会（HOA）管理费和保险费上涨所推动的公寓价格下跌，或许能为Z世代和千禧一代提供一个拥有住房的契机。房地产专家表示，购买公寓可能是首次置业的明智选择，但购房人必须做好尽职调查。
疫情期间低于3%的抵押贷款利率曾掀起一波购房潮，然而2023年10月，利率一度飙升至8%的峰值，满怀希望的准房主们遭遇了利率重击。这令许多有购房意愿的新买家望而却步，尤其是年轻一代。
但根据Case-Shiller全美房价指数，尽管当前房价较2020年同期高出51%，Z世代和千禧一代仍有微弱的机会进入市场。Redfin的数据显示，公寓价格其实正在下跌，5月份价格同比下跌了2%。这是自该房地产公司2012年开始追踪该数据以来的第二大跌幅。
Redfin指出，公寓价格下跌，原因是业主已对高昂的业主委员会管理费和保险费感到厌倦。Redfin的数据显示，美国公寓的平均价格为354,100美元。
总部位于迈阿密的Douglas Elliman Real Estate的房地产经纪人助理雅克琳·比尔德证实，价格下跌的主要原因是业主委员会管理费、保险费以及整体持有成本的上涨，而非需求下降。
比尔德对《财富》杂志表示：“房源略有增加，待售天数也有所上升，这使得买家拥有了比近几年更大的议价优势。这个窗口期可能为那些因价格战或利率上升而被边缘化的年轻买家提供机会。”
对于Z世代和千禧一代来说，这可能好消息。由于相对较高的抵押贷款利率、不断上涨的房价，以及老一辈持有房产的时间比过去更长等原因，Z世代和千禧一代进入房地产市场面临困难。
购买公寓的利弊
对于首次置业者来说，购买公寓是一个不错的选择，因为其价格通常低于独栋住宅，而且维护需求较少。
科罗拉多州房地产经纪人、New Era Home Buyers公司老板布雷特·约翰逊对《财富》表示，自2024年6月（当时公寓的平均成交价为416,000美元）以来，他所在市场的公寓价格持续下跌。截至今年6月，平均价格已下跌2.6%，降至405,000美元。约翰逊表示，虽然跌幅不算巨大，但这“足以引起买家的关注”。
他补充道：“对于那些了解风险并愿意做足功课的Z世代或千禧一代购房人来说，这可能仍然是一个不错的切入点。”
所谓的功课就是了解拥有公寓所伴随的业主委员会管理费和保险费用。他表示，这主要是老旧建筑或资金不足的建筑才会出现的问题。
约翰逊表示：“我曾帮助买家利用这些价格下跌的时机，但我总是告诉他们要深入调查业主委员会的财务状况，留意是否有特殊费用，并了解他们要承担的义务。其中一些公寓仍然划算，但前提是要清楚自己将要面对的情况。”
佛罗里达州就是一个业主委员会管理费和保险费让业主措手不及的典型例子。近年来，富裕的房主因为当地温暖的气候和较低的税费而涌入佛罗里达州，却遭遇了意想不到的住房费用。例如，Redfin在2024年8月的一份报告显示，坦帕市每月业主委员会管理费中位数同比上涨了17.2%，而全国平均涨幅为5.7%。
与此同时，根据Insurify的一项研究，预计今年房屋保险价格将上涨8%，有些州的涨幅甚至高达27%。
比尔德表示：“买家不仅关注购买价格，还关注每月的总支出金额。如果这些数字不符合预期，他们就会放弃购房或更积极地谈判。这是一场数字博弈，那些透明度高、维护记录良好、财务状况良好的楼宇将脱颖而出。”（*）
译者：刘进龙
审校：汪皓
• 历经多年抵押贷款利率上升和房价飙升之后，许多年轻买家已被挤出市场。然而，由业主委员会（HOA）管理费和保险费上涨所推动的公寓价格下跌，或许能为Z世代和千禧一代提供一个拥有住房的契机。房地产专家表示，购买公寓可能是首次置业的明智选择，但购房人必须做好尽职调查。
疫情期间低于3%的抵押贷款利率曾掀起一波购房潮，然而2023年10月，利率一度飙升至8%的峰值，满怀希望的准房主们遭遇了利率重击。这令许多有购房意愿的新买家望而却步，尤其是年轻一代。
但根据Case-Shiller全美房价指数，尽管当前房价较2020年同期高出51%，Z世代和千禧一代仍有微弱的机会进入市场。Redfin的数据显示，公寓价格其实正在下跌，5月份价格同比下跌了2%。这是自该房地产公司2012年开始追踪该数据以来的第二大跌幅。
Redfin指出，公寓价格下跌，原因是业主已对高昂的业主委员会管理费和保险费感到厌倦。Redfin的数据显示，美国公寓的平均价格为354,100美元。
总部位于迈阿密的Douglas Elliman Real Estate的房地产经纪人助理雅克琳·比尔德证实，价格下跌的主要原因是业主委员会管理费、保险费以及整体持有成本的上涨，而非需求下降。
比尔德对《财富》杂志表示：“房源略有增加，待售天数也有所上升，这使得买家拥有了比近几年更大的议价优势。这个窗口期可能为那些因价格战或利率上升而被边缘化的年轻买家提供机会。”
对于Z世代和千禧一代来说，这可能好消息。由于相对较高的抵押贷款利率、不断上涨的房价，以及老一辈持有房产的时间比过去更长等原因，Z世代和千禧一代进入房地产市场面临困难。
购买公寓的利弊
对于首次置业者来说，购买公寓是一个不错的选择，因为其价格通常低于独栋住宅，而且维护需求较少。
科罗拉多州房地产经纪人、New Era Home Buyers公司老板布雷特·约翰逊对《财富》表示，自2024年6月（当时公寓的平均成交价为416,000美元）以来，他所在市场的公寓价格持续下跌。截至今年6月，平均价格已下跌2.6%，降至405,000美元。约翰逊表示，虽然跌幅不算巨大，但这“足以引起买家的关注”。
他补充道：“对于那些了解风险并愿意做足功课的Z世代或千禧一代购房人来说，这可能仍然是一个不错的切入点。”
所谓的功课就是了解拥有公寓所伴随的业主委员会管理费和保险费用。他表示，这主要是老旧建筑或资金不足的建筑才会出现的问题。
约翰逊表示：“我曾帮助买家利用这些价格下跌的时机，但我总是告诉他们要深入调查业主委员会的财务状况，留意是否有特殊费用，并了解他们要承担的义务。其中一些公寓仍然划算，但前提是要清楚自己将要面对的情况。”
佛罗里达州就是一个业主委员会管理费和保险费让业主措手不及的典型例子。近年来，富裕的房主因为当地温暖的气候和较低的税费而涌入佛罗里达州，却遭遇了意想不到的住房费用。例如，Redfin在2024年8月的一份报告显示，坦帕市每月业主委员会管理费中位数同比上涨了17.2%，而全国平均涨幅为5.7%。
与此同时，根据Insurify的一项研究，预计今年房屋保险价格将上涨8%，有些州的涨幅甚至高达27%。
比尔德表示：“买家不仅关注购买价格，还关注每月的总支出金额。如果这些数字不符合预期，他们就会放弃购房或更积极地谈判。这是一场数字博弈，那些透明度高、维护记录良好、财务状况良好的楼宇将脱颖而出。”（*）
译者：刘进龙
审校：汪皓
• After years of rising mortgage rates and soaring home prices, many younger buyers have been priced out of the market. But falling condo prices, driven by rising HOA and insurance costs, may offer Gen Z and millennials an entry point into homeownership. Real estate experts say condos can be a smart first purchase, but buyers have to do their due diligence.
Following the sub-3% mortgage rates during the pandemic that ushered in a wave of new homeownership, hopeful homeowners were slapped by rates that peaked at 8% in October 2023. That halted many new buyers from entering the market—particularly younger generations.
But there may be a small sliver of the market where Gen Zers and millennials could have the opportunity to break in, even though home prices are currently 51% higher than they were the same time in 2020, according to the Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index. Condo prices are actually falling, and dropped 2% year over year in May, according to Redfin. That’s the second-largest decline since the real estate company started tracking the data in 2012.
Condo prices are dropping because homeowners have gotten fed up with high HOA and insurance fees, according to Redfin. The average cost of a condo in the U.S. is $354,100, Redfin data shows.
Jaclyn Bild, a real estate broker associate at Douglas Elliman Real Estate based in Miami, confirmed the drop in prices has primarily been driven by rising HOA fees, insurance premiums, and overall cost of ownership—not a drop in demand.
“Inventory has increased slightly, and days on market have ticked up, giving buyers more leverage than they’ve had in recent years,” Bild told Fortune. “This window could represent an opportunity for younger buyers who’ve been sidelined by pricing wars or rising interest rates.”
That could be welcome news for Gen Zers and millennials who have had a tough time breaking into the housing market for a host of reasons: comparatively high mortgage rates, rising home prices, and older generations holding on to their homes for longer than they used to.
The pros and cons of buying a condo
Buying a condo can be a good place for first-time homeowners to start because of their typically lower price tag than single-family homes—and less maintenance to boot.
Brett Johnson, a Colorado real estate agent and owner of New Era Home Buyers, told Fortune condo prices in his housing market have been dropping since June 2024, when the average closing price of a condo was $416,000. As of this June, the average price had dropped 2.6% to $405,000. While not a huge drop, it’s “enough to get buyers’ attention,” Johnson said.
“This could still be a good entry point for Gen Z or millennial buyers who understand the risks and are willing to do their homework,” he added.
The homework is understanding the associated HOA and insurance costs with owning a condo. This is mostly a problem with older or underfunded buildings, he said.
“I’ve helped buyers take advantage of these price dips, but I always tell them to dig deep into the HOA’s financials, look out for special assessments, and understand what they’re signing up for,” Johnson said. “Some of these condos are still great deals, but only if you know what you’re getting into.”
Florida is a prime example of where HOA and insurance fees have caught homeowners by surprise. In recent years, wealthy homeowners have flocked to Florida for its warm weather and smaller tax bills, but were met with unexpected housing fees. An August 2024 Redfin report showed median monthly HOA fee increased 17.2% year over year in Tampa, compared to 5.7% nationally, as an example.
Meanwhile, home insurance prices are expected to jump 8% this year, with some states seeing a 27% jump, according to a study by Insurify.
“Buyers are looking at not just the purchase price, but the total monthly outlay—and if those numbers don’t work, they’re walking away or negotiating more aggressively,” Bild said. “It’s a numbers game, and buildings with transparency, maintenance history, and financial health are coming out ahead.”