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HOME AFFORDABILITY WORSENS AGAIN ACROSS U.S. IN FOURTH QUARTER AS HOME PRICES KEEP CLIMBING

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Major Home-Ownership Expenses Consume 34 Percent of National Average Wage;

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property data, and real estate analytics, today released its fourth-quarter 2024 U.S. Home Affordability Report showing that median-priced single-family homes and condos remain less affordable in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to historical averages in 98 percent of counties around the nation with enough data to analyze. The latest trend continues a three-year pattern of home ownership requiring historically large portions of wages as U.S. home prices keep reaching new heights.

The report also shows that major expenses on median-priced homes currently consume 34 percent of the average national wage. That level marks an increase of more than one percentage point both quarterly and annually, pushing the figure even farther above the common 28 percent lending guideline preferred by lenders.

The downturns in current and historic affordability represent the latest measures of how home ownership remains a financial stretch for average workers around the nation. They come as the national median home price has climbed to $364,750 this quarter and mortgage rates, while declining, remain over 6 percent. Combined, those forces are helping to keep the ratio of ownership expenses to wages in the unaffordable range.

Fourth-quarter trends also have reversed a slight improvement during the third quarter of this year that had signaled a possible step in the right direction for homeowners. The portion of average wages nationwide required for typical mortgage payments, property taxes and insurance now stands almost 13 points beyond a low point reached early in 2021, right before home-mortgage interest rates shot up from the lowest levels in decades.

“The U.S. housing market continues to generate great profits for most home sellers but also more and more financial stress for would-be buyers. Average workers now must shell out a larger portion of their wages for major home-ownership expenses than at any time since right before the housing market tanked in the late 2000s,” said Rob Barber, CEO for ATTOM. “Despite recent declines in mortgage rates, down payments on typical home purchases have reached four times the average national wage.”

He added that “at some point, something’s got to give, or a growing number of buyers will have no choice but to toss in the towel and wait for home ownership to become more affordable. But we clearly are not there yet.”

The latest numbers reflect yet another period when year-over-year changes in major expenses on typical single-family homes and condos have outrun changes in average wages around the country. Expense totals have either grown faster or declined less than wages during 14 of the last 15 quarters dating back to late 2020, pushing affordability in the wrong direction for house hunters.

The report determines affordability for average wage earners by calculating the amount of income needed to meet major monthly home ownership expenses — including mortgage payments, property taxes and insurance — on a median-priced single-family home and condo, assuming a 20 percent down payment and a 28 percent maximum “front-end” debt-to-income ratio. That required income is measured against annualized average weekly wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (see full methodology below).

Compared to historical levels, median home ownership costs in 556 of the 566 counties analyzed in the fourth quarter of 2024 are less affordable than in the past. That is virtually unchanged from both the third quarter of 2024 and the fourth quarter of 2023.

Historic measures remain negative as the portion of average local wages consumed by major home-ownership expenses on typical homes are considered unaffordable during the fourth quarter of 2024 in about 70 percent of the 566 counties in the report, based on the 28 percent guideline. Counties with the largest populations that are unaffordable in the fourth quarter are Los Angeles County, CA; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; San Diego County, CA; Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) and Miami-Dade County, FL.

On the flip side, the most populous of the counties with affordable levels of major expenses on median-priced homes during the fourth quarter of 2024 are Cook County (Chicago), IL; Harris County (Houston), TX; Wayne County (Detroit), MI; Philadelphia County, PA, and Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH.

View Q4 2024 U.S. Home Affordability Heat Map

National median home price up quarterly and annually amid mixed picture at county level
The national median price for single-family homes and condos has risen to a record high of $364,750 in the fourth quarter of 2024. The latest figure represents a 2.1 percent increase over the third quarter of this year and is 11.4 percent above the typical price in the fourth quarter of 2023.

At the county level, the pattern is more varied. Median home prices have increased since the fourth quarter of last year in 503, or 88.9 percent, of the 566 counties included in the report. Quarterly, however, typical values they have risen in only 210, or 37.1 percent of those markets. That is a sign that the latest jump in national median price may be driven more by larger numbers of sales in markets with bigger increases.

Data was analyzed for counties with a population of at least 100,000 and at least 50 single-family home and condo sales in the fourth quarter of 2024 with sufficient data.

Among the 47 counties in the report with a population of at least 1 million, the biggest year-over-year increases in median prices during the fourth quarter of 2024 are in Bronx County, NY (up 13.3 percent annually); Wayne County (Detroit), MI (up 12.9 percent); Cook County (Chicago), IL (up 12.1 percent); Suffolk County (Long Island), NY (up 11.5 percent) and Santa Clara County, CA (up 11 percent).

The only counties with a population of at least 1 million where median prices remain down from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the same period this year are New York County (Manhattan), NY (down 3.3 percent) and Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (down 1 percent).

Prices improving more than wages in three-quarters of U.S.
As home values keep rising throughout most of the U.S., year-over-year price changes have outpaced changes in weekly annualized wages during the fourth quarter of 2024 in 429, or 75.8 percent, of the counties analyzed in the report. That has helped push affordability levels down for average workers around the country.

The latest group of counties where prices have increased more than wages annually include Los Angeles County, CA; Cook County, (Chicago), IL; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; San Diego County, CA, and Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles).

On the other side of the spectrum, year-over-year changes in average annualized wages have bested price movements during the fourth quarter of 2024 in just 137 of the counties analyzed (24.2 percent).

Home ownership consuming larger portion of wages in majority of U.S.
Despite falling mortgage rates in recent months, the portion of average local wages consumed by major expenses on median-priced single-family homes and condos has risen quarterly in 357, or 63.1 percent, of the 566 counties analyzed, although it is still down annually in slightly more than half.

Nationwide, the typical $2,092 cost of mortgage payments, homeowner insurance, mortgage insurance and property taxes is up 4.6 percent quarterly and 6.1 percent annually to a new all-time high. That has outpaced the 1 percent quarterly and 3.1 annual gains in the average national wage.

The latest expense total commonly consumes 34 percent of the average annual national wage of $73,918. That is up from 32.5 percent the third quarter of 2024 and from 32.7 percent in the fourth quarter of last year. The current level is nearly 13 percentage points more than a recent low point of 21.3 percent hit in the first quarter of 2021.

The cost-to-wage ratio exceeds the 28 percent lending guideline in 436, or 77 percent, of the counties analyzed, assuming a 20 percent down payment. That percentage is unchanged from the third quarter of 2024, based on the same group of counties, but is up slightly from 75.4 percent a year ago. It is far above the 31 percent figure recorded in early 2021.

In about one-third the markets analyzed around the U.S., major expenses consume at least 43 percent of average local wages, a benchmark considered seriously unaffordable.

Affordability downturns over the past year have hit hardest in low- and mid-priced markets, where prices fall below $350,000, with concentrations in the Northeast and Midwest. Those areas generally have been among the more affordable for local wage earners – a sign that they could be headed into the same difficult territory as more expensive markets.

Home ownerships on Northeast and West coasts still pose biggest financial burden for buyers
All but two of the top 25 counties where major ownership costs require the largest percentage of average local wages in the fourth quarter of 2024 are on the Northeast or West coasts, extending past trends. The leaders are Santa Cruz County, CA (115.5 percent of annualized local wages needed to buy a single-family home or condo); Maui County, HI (114.6 percent); Marin County, CA (outside San Francisco) (109.7 percent); Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (106.5 percent) and San Luis Obispo County, CA (96.2 percent).

Aside from Kings County, those with a population of at least 1 million where major ownership expenses typically consume more than 28 percent of average local wages in the fourth quarter of 2024 include Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) (96 percent required); Queens County, NY (79.4 percent); Alameda County (Oakland), CA (77.2 percent) and San Diego County, CA (72.9 percent).

Counties where the smallest portion of average local wages are required to afford the median-priced home during the fourth quarter of this year are Cambria County, PA (east of Pittsburgh) (11.5 percent of annualized weekly wages needed to buy a home); Schuylkill County, PA (outside Allentown) (12.8 percent); Macon County (Decatur), IL (13.3 percent); Peoria County, IL (13.4 percent) and Mobile County, AL (13.6 percent).

Wage needed to afford typical home 21 percent above U.S. average
Major home ownership expenses on typical homes sold in the fourth quarter of 2024 require an annual income of $89,649 to be affordable. That is 21.3 percent more than the latest average national wage of $73,918.

Annual wages of more than $75,000 are needed to pay for major costs on median-priced homes purchased during the fourth quarter of 2024 in 325, or 57.4 percent, of the 566 markets in the report. That continues to pose major obstacles as average wages exceed that amount in just 13.6 percent of the counties reviewed.

The 20 counties with the highest annual wages required to afford typical homes remain along the east or west coasts, led by San Mateo County, CA ($404,277); Santa Clara County (San Jose), CA ($377,190); Marin County, CA (outside San Francisco) ($360,875); New York County (Manhattan), NY ($357,923) and San Francisco County, CA ($346,004).

The lowest annual wages required to afford a median-priced home in the fourth quarter of 2024 are in Cambria County, PA (east of Pittsburgh) ($20,235); Schuylkill County, PA (outside Allentown) ($24,415); Robeson County, NC (outside Fayetteville) ($26,656); Mercer County, PA ($27,390) and Mobile County, AL ($29,356).

Home ownership still unaffordable by historical standards throughout U.S.
Home ownership is less affordable in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to historic averages in 98.2 percent of the 566 counties analyzed. That is about the same as the level in both the third quarter of 2024 and the fourth quarter of last year, but more than 20 times higher than the 4.6 percent portion in the first quarter of 2021.

Historical indexes have worsened quarterly, mostly by small amounts, in about two-thirds of the counties reviewed. That had dropped the nationwide index to its lowest point since 2007.

Counties with a population of at least 1 million that are less affordable than their historic averages (indexes of less than 100 are considered historically less affordable) include Wayne County (Detroit), MI (index of 61); Fulton County (Atlanta), GA (65); Mecklenburg County (Charlotte), NC (65); Broward County (Fort Lauderdale), FL (65) and Hillsborough County (Tampa), FL (66).

Overall, counties with the worst affordability indexes in the fourth quarter of 2024 are Jasper County (Carthage), MO (index of 54); Jackson County, MS (56); Beaver County, PA (outside Pittsburgh) (56); Navajo County, AZ (Holbrook), AZ (57) and Muskegon County, MI (57).

The nationwide index of 74 is worse than in the third quarter of this year (78) and the fourth quarter of last year (77).

Report Methodology
The ATTOM U.S. Home Affordability Index analyzed median home prices derived from publicly recorded sales deed data collected by ATTOM and average wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 566 U.S. counties with a combined population of 250.7 million during the fourth quarter of 2024. The affordability index is based on the percentage of average wages needed to pay for major expenses on a median-priced home with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and a 20 percent down payment. Those expenses include property taxes, home insurance, mortgage payments and mortgage insurance. Average 30-year fixed interest rates from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey were used to calculate monthly house payments.

The report determined affordability for average wage earners by calculating the amount of income needed for major home-ownership expenses on median-priced homes, assuming a loan of 80 percent of the purchase price and a 28 percent maximum “front-end” debt-to-income ratio. For example, affording the nationwide median home price of $364,750 in the fourth quarter of 2024 requires an annual wage of $89,649. That is based on a $72,950 down payment, a $291,800 loan and monthly expenses not exceeding the 28 percent barrier — meaning wage earners would not be spending more than 28 percent of their pay on mortgage payments, property taxes and insurance. That required income is more than the $73,918 average wage nationwide, based on the most recent average weekly wage data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, making a median-priced home nationwide unaffordable for average workers.

About ATTOM
ATTOM provides premium property data and analytics that power a myriad of solutions that improve transparency, innovation, digitization and efficiency in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation’s population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes, and enhances the real estate data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID — the ATTOM ID. The 30TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include ATTOM Cloud, bulk file licenses, property data APIs, real estate market trends, property navigator and more. Also, introducing our newest innovative solution, making property data more readily accessible and optimized for AI applications – AI-Ready Solutions.

Media Contact:
Megan Hunt
Megan.hunt@attomdata.com

Data and Report Licensing:
949.502.8313
datareports@attomdata.com

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SOURCE ATTOM

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Jack Henry’s Annual Survey of Financial Institutions Highlights Priorities Amid Economic Uncertainty and a New Hybrid Monetary Era

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April 28, 2026

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Banks and credit unions plan to increase technology spending, led by investments in AI, digital banking, and data analytics

MONETT, Mo., April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Banks and credit unions are prioritizing operational efficiency, deposit growth, and new payment capabilities as they navigate economic uncertainty and increasing technological complexity, according to findings from Jack Henry’s eighth annual Strategy Benchmark.

Jack Henry® (Nasdaq: JKHY) surveyed 193 executives from financial institutions using Jack Henry solutions. The survey highlights the industry’s most pressing strategic priorities, top concerns, and technology investment plans for the next two years.

“Banks and credit unions have finally recognized their biggest competitive threat in Big Fintech and Big Crypto,” says Lee Wetherington, Senior Director of Corporate Strategy and lead author of the benchmark. “As we enter a new hybrid monetary era, the game is changing and charter franchises are under attack. The goal of strategy is no longer simply to win but to ensure you’re competing to win the right game.”

The vast majority of financial institutions plan to increase technology spending, with 88% expecting to raise their tech budgets over the next two years, up from 76% last year. Four in 10 institutions (41%) plan increases of 6% to 10%, compared with 33% a year ago. Artificial intelligence (48%) is the top planned technology investment for the first time, followed by digital banking (38%) and data analytics (32%). While banks remain focused on growing deposits (64%) as their top strategic priority in 2026-2027, credit unions (40%) continue to place outsized emphasis on acquiring younger accountholders (Gen Z/Alpha).

“Financial institutions are in a high-stakes race for Gen Z and small business,” says Jennifer Geis, Senior Strategic Advisor of Corporate Strategy at Jack Henry and Managing Editor of the study. “Given Gen Z now drives most small-business formation—and given small-business deposits are 4-5X larger than retail—understanding and meeting the unique needs of “bizumers” is key to growth, whether you frame it in terms of deposits or demographics.”

Among the highlights from the survey:

PaymentsMore than nine out of 10 CEOs (94%) plan to add new payment services within the next two years, yet only 36% have a formal payments strategy in place.More than four out of five (82%) financial institutions plan to incorporate tap-to-pay as part of their strategy to add younger accountholders.Nearly half (47%) of CEOs plan to embed payments into their digital banking experience over the next two years.Small Business FocusThree out of four CEOs say they plan to expand services for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).The most common planned addition is payment services, including FedNow®, request for payment, and tap-to-pay. 
 Cryptocurrency18% of CEOs plan to support stablecoins, tokenized money, and/or cryptocurrency by the end of 2027. This includes:Tokenized deposits/deposit tokensSupport for on-chain wallets for accountholdersAbility to orchestrate, exchange, and settle dollars to and from stablecoins/crypto.However, only 3% of CEOs report having a formal stablecoin strategy in place.
 Getting YoungerThe second most important strategic priority for credit unions (and fourth overall) is adding younger accountholders. It is also one of the top three concerns for CEOs.More than 40% of credit unions have a formal strategy, compared to just 10% of banks.Fintechs and neobanks are considered the biggest competitive threat in this area.Data analytics and AILeveraging data is the 5th most important strategic priority overall among banks and credit unionsPlans to implement AI grew double digits compared to last year1/3 of FIs plan to embed data collection/analysis tools within digital banking

The study’s results are based on an online survey conducted in January and February 2026 of a diverse sample of Jack Henry clients with assets ranging from less than $500 million to more than $5 billion. Download the eBook to learn more.

About Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.®
Jack Henry® (Nasdaq: JKHY) is a well-rounded financial technology company that strengthens connections between financial institutions and the people and businesses they serve. We are an S&P 500 company that prioritizes openness, collaboration, and user centricity – offering banks and credit unions a vibrant ecosystem of internally developed modern capabilities as well as the ability to integrate with leading fintechs. For 50 years, Jack Henry has provided technology solutions to enable clients to innovate faster, strategically differentiate, and successfully compete while serving the evolving needs of their accountholders. We empower approximately 7,400 clients with people-inspired innovation, personal service, and insight-driven solutions that help reduce the barriers to financial health. Additional information is available at jackhenry.com.

Statements made in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the Company’s most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, particularly under the heading “Risk Factors.” Any forward-looking statement made in this news release speaks only as of the date of the news release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

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CorroHealth Honored As Stevie® Award Winner In 2026 American Business Awards®

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April 28, 2026

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PLANO, Texas, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Leading revenue cycle technology company CorroHealth was named the winner of a Silver Stevie® Award in the Health Provider category in The 24th Annual American Business Awards®.

The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.’s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. This year, the program received more than 3,600 nominations from organizations across virtually every industry.

“We are honored to receive this prestigious award and to be recognized alongside many esteemed American business leaders,” said Pat Leonard, CEO of CorroHealth. “This acknowledgement reflects CorroHealth’s ongoing commitment to the healthcare industry, serving as the leading revenue cycle technology company built for the future of healthcare finance.”

CorroHealth earned recognition for its mission and purpose, transforming healthcare operations and driving innovation to deliver better outcomes for hospitals and health systems. The company was selected after a methodical nomination process and careful evaluation of its industry impact and dedication to bridging the gap between patient care and financial performance.

More than 250 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie Award winners. One judge who evaluated the nomination stated, “CorroHealth’s blend of expert driven services and AI-powered platforms delivers measurable, enterprise scale financial gains that far exceed industry norms.” The judges also recognized the company as a leader in innovation and operational excellence within the healthcare financial technology sector.

To learn more about CorroHealth, visit corrohealth.com.

About CorroHealth 
CorroHealth, the leading healthcare technology and revenue cycle management company that helps providers and payers improve financial performance through automation, data-driven analytics, and clinically led expertise. CorroHealth delivers integrated, scalable solutions that support complex reimbursement and documentation workflows, backed by a global workforce operating in more than 10 locations, including the United States, United Kingdom, India, and the United Arab Emirates. The company was recently named one of the “Top Places to Work in Healthcare in 2026” by Becker’s Healthcare and a Great Place To Work® Certified™ in India for the second time in two years. Further information is available at corrohealth.com.

About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the new Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes, as well as the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding workplace performance worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

Media Contact:
CorroHealth
Mellissa Gardner, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer
mellissa.gardner@corrohealth.com

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Singular Genomics Names John Stark as Chief Executive Officer as Company Builds on Spatial Platform Momentum

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April 28, 2026

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SAN DIEGO, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Singular Genomics Systems, Inc. today announced the appointment of John Stark as Chief Executive Officer. This leadership transition comes as Singular builds on the launch of its market-leading spatial platform and enters its next phase, focused on expanding adoption, deepening strategic partnerships, and increasing the impact of multimodal spatial data across translational research, drug development, and future clinical applications. Josh Stahl will transition to a new role as Independent Director on the Board.

“With Singular’s G4X platform now successfully on the market, the company is positioned to realize spatial pathology’s potential across translational research and clinical applications,” said Allison Ballmer, Chair of the Board. “Josh strengthened Singular and repositioned the company’s technology, culminating in the successful launch of the G4X platform. John’s leadership experience will now help scale the business and capitalize on the opportunity to drive precision medicine forward.”

John brings more than 25 years of experience commercializing innovative technologies while scaling organizations and raising capital. Most recently, John served as Chief Executive Officer of Resolve Biosciences, a spatial biology platform company, where he drove partnerships and routine use across the translational, drug development, and clinical research markets. Prior to Resolve, John served as Chief Executive Officer of Quantum-Si, a next-generation single-molecule protein sequencing platform company, and Chief Executive Officer of Celsee, a single-cell genomics platform company acquired by Bio-Rad in 2020. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership positions at Life Technologies, Pacific Biosciences, and Affymetrix.

“Singular has built a competitive spatial platform and a strong foundation in a rapidly evolving market,” said John Stark, CEO. “I’m excited to build on that momentum – deepening partnerships, scaling adoption, and unlocking broader value from spatial data across research, drug development, and precision medicine.”

“We thank Josh Stahl for building an exceptional foundation for Singular, and welcome John Stark, who brings a long history of commercial leadership to the company,” said Andrew ElBardissi, Partner at Deerfield Management. “We remain confident in Singular’s technology, market opportunity, and path to leadership in precision medicine and are committed to supporting the company’s continued growth.”

About Singular Genomics

Singular is a life science technology company focused on delivering high-throughput spatial pathology solutions to advance precision medicine. The company’s G4X™ Spatial Sequencer enables scalable, multiomic analysis directly in tissue, combining performance, throughput, and cost efficiency to support translational research, AI-driven insights, and clinical developments. Singular is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Singular Genomics undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Media Contact
Darius Fugere
dariusf@singulargenomics.com

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SOURCE Singular Genomics

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