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Americans Need to Earn 70.1% More Today Than Six Years Ago to Afford the Median-priced Home

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1 year ago

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Americans now need to earn $114,000 to afford the median-priced homePending home sales fall for the fourth straight month YoY, down 3.2%Active listings rise 30.6% YoY, surpassing April 2020 levelsPrice reductions hit 18.0% of listings

AUSTIN, Texas, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A U.S. household now needs to earn $114,000 annually to afford a median-priced home. That’s up 70.1% from $67,000 just six years ago according to the Realtor.com® April Housing Trends Report. While it’s clear that buying a home has become significantly more expensive, there are optimistic signs that today’s market is slowly shifting in buyers’ favor. Inventory is climbing, more sellers are adjusting their prices, and buyers are beginning to gain a bit more leverage in the market.

“Even with today’s affordability hurdles, meaningful changes in the market could give buyers a better shot at finding a home,” said Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com®. “The number of homes for sale is rising in many markets, giving shoppers more choices than they’ve had in years. Sellers are becoming more flexible on pricing, underscored by the price reductions we’re seeing, and while higher mortgage rates are certainly weighing on demand, the silver lining is that the market is starting to rebalance. This could create opportunities for buyers who are prepared.”

April 2025 Housing Metrics – National (*For metro stats, see Table 1 and Table 2 below)

Metric

April 2025

Change over

Mar. 2025 (MoM)

Change over

Apr. 2024 (YoY)

Change over
Apr. 2019

Median listing price

$431,250

+1.5 %

+0.3 %

+36.9 %

Active listings

959,251

+7.5 %

+30.6 %

-15.6 %

New listings

471,788

+8.2 %

+9.2 %

-14.6 %

Median days on market

50

-3 days

+4 days

 -4 days

Share of active listings with price reductions

18.0 %

+0.5 percentage points

+2.5 percentage points

+3.5 percentage points

Median List Price Per Sq.Ft.

$233

+1.0 %

+1.1 %

+54.0 %

A $114,000 Homeownership Threshold
Since 2019, the income required to afford the median-priced home has risen $47,000 to $114,00. This figure assumes a 30-year fixed mortgage, a 20% down payment, and no more than 30% of gross monthly income spent on housing. The widening gap is fueled by a combination of rapid home price appreciation and elevated mortgage rates but in some markets, the bar is even higher.

Markets with the Highest Required Incomes to Afford a Home

Metro Area

Required Income to Afford Median Home

Required Income vs Apr. 2019

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

$370,069

+54.3 %

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

$263,023

+30.5 %

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

$315,892

+86.0 %

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

$258,926

+73.4 %

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

$206,777

+54.9 %

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

$232,095

+81.9 %

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

$208,687

+69.4 %

Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO

$158,462

+42.2 %

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA

$167,481

+61.7 %

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

$164,682

+59.1 %

Five California markets showed up in the list above. The state, along with many others represented here, are among the lowest scorers in a recent Realtor.com® analysis, which assigned a grade (A+ through F) to each state based on home affordability. And, it’s clear that California has a lot of homework to do – pun intended.

January Set the Tone and April Followed: Pending Home Sales Continue to Drop
From October to December last year, pending home sales were relatively stronger on a year-over-year basis. But since January, the momentum has shifted, and in April, pending home sales declined 3.2% compared with a year ago, marking the fourth consecutive month of annual declines. A renewed rise in mortgage rates, now back to levels seen in early 2024, is likely a key factor behind the slowdown. As borrowing costs climbed again in late April, some buyers who had been waiting for more favorable conditions are hitting pause, injecting new uncertainty into the market as it moves into the typically busy summer season.

Shifts in Pending Home Sales YoY

Month

YoY Change in Pending Home Sales

April 2025

– 3.2 %

March 2025

– 5.3 %

February 2025

– 5.4 %

January 2025

– 4.1 %

December 2024

+ 2.4 %

November 2024

+ 8.2 %

October 2024

+ 4.3 %

Where’s the Silver Lining? 
In light of affordability concerns and more choice for buyers, data suggest that some sellers are meeting buyers in the middle. This month, 18.0% of listings saw price reductions. Additionally, active listings were up 30.6% year-over-year, surpassing April 2020 levels, a notable pandemic-era benchmark.

The West (+41.7%) and South (+33.3%) led the way in active listings growth, while certain markets, including San Diego (+70.1%), San Jose (+67.6%), and Washington, D.C. (+69.3%) saw the biggest local gains.  Despite this, nationwide inventory still sits 16.3% below 2017–2019 norms, meaning buyers have more options but the market hasn’t fully recovered.

The full April 2025 monthly housing trends report with additional findings can be found here.

*Table 1: April 2025 Top 50 Metros Median Listing Price and Income

Metro Area

Median Listing
Price

Median Listing
Price YoY

Median
Listing Price
per Sq. Ft.
YoY

Median Listing
Price vs April
2019

Required
Income to
Afford 
Median Home

Required
Income vs
April 2019

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Ga.

$412,470

-0.8 %

-1.3 %

26.9 %

$109,034

57.7 %

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Texas

$525,000

-5.9 %

-5.1 %

41.9 %

$138,781

76.3 %

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Md.

$392,688

11.5 %

4.0 %

19.0 %

$103,805

47.9 %

Birmingham, Ala.

$299,900

1.5 %

0.8 %

18.8 %

$79,277

47.6 %

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Mass.-N.H.

$878,000

0.9 %

1.6 %

46.4 %

$232,095

81.9 %

Buffalo-Cheektowaga, N.Y.

$280,000

-1.7 %

1.2 %

31.8 %

$74,017

63.8 %

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, N.C.-S.C.

$439,500

4.0 %

1.0 %

25.6 %

$116,180

56.1 %

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Ill.-Ind.

$372,450

-4.4 %

-0.5 %

9.8 %

$98,455

36.4 %

Cincinnati, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.

$347,725

-7.3 %

2.3 %

23.8 %

$91,919

53.8 %

Cleveland, Ohio

$267,450

7.0 %

8.5 %

34.5 %

$70,699

67.1 %

Columbus, Ohio

$377,450

-4.9 %

1.3 %

24.8 %

$99,777

55.1 %

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas

$430,000

-4.4 %

-0.7 %

19.4 %

$113,668

48.4 %

Denver-Aurora-Centennial, Colo.

$599,450

-4.1 %

-1.1 %

14.5 %

$158,462

42.2 %

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Mich.

$253,575

1.4 %

1.8 %

1.3 %

$67,031

25.8 %

Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, Mich.

$397,000

-2.6 %

1.0 %

36.9 %

$104,945

70.2 %

Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, Conn.

$453,675

6.8 %

7.0 %

49.7 %

$119,927

86.0 %

Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, Texas

$369,900

0.2 %

-0.6 %

14.7 %

$97,781

42.5 %

Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, Ind.

$329,211

-3.4 %

-0.8 %

18.7 %

$87,025

47.4 %

Jacksonville, Fla.

$399,995

-4.8 %

-2.9 %

28.1 %

$105,737

59.2 %

Kansas City, Mo.-Kan.

$399,450

-5.3 %

0.5 %

23.9 %

$105,593

53.9 %

Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, Nev.

$475,000

0.0 %

0.9 %

50.1 %

$125,564

86.5 %

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Calif.

$1,195,000

0.3 %

1.4 %

49.7 %

$315,892

86.0 %

Louisville/Jefferson County, Ky.-Ind.

$324,950

-0.6 %

1.9 %

16.2 %

$85,899

44.4 %

Memphis, Tenn.-Miss.-Ark.

$345,495

1.8 %

1.6 %

56.8 %

$91,330

94.8 %

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Fla.

$510,000

-5.6 %

-4.2 %

27.8 %

$134,816

58.8 %

Milwaukee-Waukesha, Wis.

$385,000

2.3 %

5.3 %

26.5 %

$101,773

57.1 %

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis.

$447,400

-0.5 %

-0.2 %

20.4 %

$118,268

49.6 %

Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tenn.

$549,450

-4.0 %

-1.4 %

48.5 %

$145,244

84.6 %

New York-Newark-Jersey City, N.Y.-N.J.

$789,450

1.9 %

-2.3 %

36.3 %

$208,687

69.4 %

Oklahoma City, Okla.

$322,255

-2.3 %

0.4 %

27.4 %

$85,186

58.3 %

Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla.

$425,000

-3.4 %

-2.1 %

35.8 %

$112,347

68.7 %

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md.

$375,000

1.4 %

2.7 %

36.4 %

$99,129

69.4 %

Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Ariz.

$525,000

-2.2 %

-0.9 %

41.4 %

$138,781

75.7 %

Pittsburgh, Pa.

$243,724

0.5 %

1.6 %

33.2 %

$64,427

65.6 %

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Ore.-Wash.

$614,950

0.0 %

-0.5 %

29.2 %

$162,559

60.6 %

Providence-Warwick, R.I.-Mass.

$584,900

11.5 %

6.9 %

55.2 %

$154,615

92.8 %

Raleigh-Cary, N.C.

$451,245

-0.5 %

-0.3 %

22.0 %

$119,284

51.6 %

Richmond, Va.

$458,950

0.0 %

2.3 %

37.2 %

$121,321

70.5 %

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif.

$602,500

0.4 %

0.3 %

46.8 %

$159,268

82.4 %

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, Calif.

$633,570

-2.5 %

-1.5 %

30.1 %

$167,481

61.7 %

San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas

$339,950

-1.3 %

-2.3 %

15.0 %

$89,864

42.9 %

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, Calif.

$979,500

-6.7 %

-3.0 %

39.5 %

$258,926

73.4 %

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif.

$995,000

-3.1 %

-5.6 %

5.0 %

$263,023

30.5 %

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.

$1,399,947

-4.6 %

-1.8 %

24.2 %

$370,069

54.3 %

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash.

$782,225

0.9 %

3.4 %

24.7 %

$206,777

54.9 %

St. Louis, Mo.-Ill.

$294,900

0.2 %

-0.9 %

31.1 %

$77,955

62.9 %

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.

$410,000

-2.4 %

-2.3 %

46.5 %

$108,381

82.0 %

Tucson, Ariz.

$396,133

-3.2 %

-0.7 %

32.7 %

$104,716

64.9 %

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, Va.-N.C.

$409,950

3.8 %

4.8 %

39.7 %

$108,368

73.6 %

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-Va.-Md.-W. Va.

$622,983

-0.6 %

-2.9 %

28.1 %

$164,682

59.1 %

*Table 2: April 2025 Top 50 Metros Inventory, Days on Market and Price Reduction 

Metro Area

Active Listing
Count YoY

New Listing
Count YoY

Median Days
on Market

Median Days
on Market Y-Y
(Days)

Price–
Reduced
Share

Price-
Reduced
Share Y-Y
(Percentage
Points)

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Ga.

45.2 %

8.8 %

46

7

20.8 %

3.1 pp

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Texas

24.5 %

-0.6 %

44

2

25.9 %

1.2 pp

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Md.

47.7 %

11.3 %

29

-7

13.4 %

1.4 pp

Birmingham, Ala.

18.2 %

-1.9 %

50

4

16.1 %

1.4 pp

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Mass.-N.H.

25.7 %

20.1 %

25

1

12.1 %

1.7 pp

Buffalo-Cheektowaga, N.Y.

3.2 %

8.4 %

35

1

6.5 %

1.2 pp

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, N.C.-S.C.

53.0 %

17.9 %

42

5

21.1 %

4.2 pp

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Ill.-Ind.

11.4 %

1.9 %

33

-1

10.4 %

1.8 pp

Cincinnati, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.

24.0 %

9.6 %

34

3

13.2 %

2.5 pp

Cleveland, Ohio

21.0 %

3.6 %

38

-2

13.0 %

2.1 pp

Columbus, Ohio

37.9 %

7.5 %

31

6

18.8 %

3.6 pp

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas

42.8 %

11.1 %

43

3

25.8 %

4.1 pp

Denver-Aurora-Centennial, Colo.

65.0 %

24.7 %

36

4

27.2 %

6.1 pp

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Mich.

16.7 %

10.6 %

37

-3

12.6 %

2.7 pp

Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, Mich.

15.4 %

-3.6 %

33

2

9.1 %

-0.3 pp

Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, Conn.

15.2 %

10.2 %

30

-1

6.7 %

1.1 pp

Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, Texas

33.9 %

10.7 %

44

1

19.2 %

1.1 pp

Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, Ind.

19.7 %

7.5 %

40

2

19.8 %

1.7 pp

Jacksonville, Fla.

35.2 %

0.4 %

57

7

27.6 %

2.7 pp

Kansas City, Mo.-Kan.

11.8 %

11.1 %

47

0

12.6 %

0.5 pp

Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, Nev.

60.7 %

18.2 %

44

5

21.4 %

7.5 pp

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Calif.

54.6 %

8.3 %

44

5

14.3 %

5.6 pp

Louisville/Jefferson County, Ky.-Ind.

22.9 %

10.5 %

39

-1

14.7 %

1.0 pp

Memphis, Tenn.-Miss.-Ark.

30.8 %

-7.6 %

56

8

20.6 %

0.4 pp

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Fla.

40.7 %

-1.0 %

72

8

20.1 %

1.2 pp

Milwaukee-Waukesha, Wis.

2.3 %

5.2 %

30

-1

8.7 %

1.8 pp

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis.

8.9 %

8.4 %

33

-3

10.6 %

0.0 pp

Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tenn.

34.3 %

4.7 %

47

16

18.8 %

-0.5 pp

New York-Newark-Jersey City, N.Y.-N.J.

3.2 %

3.3 %

45

-1

7.6 %

0.6 pp

Oklahoma City, Okla.

30.0 %

-0.9 %

43

2

18.4 %

0.4 pp

Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla.

44.7 %

5.3 %

62

8

23.4 %

2.8 pp

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md.

18.2 %

6.2 %

35

-5

12.6 %

1.2 pp

Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Ariz.

33.3 %

22.9 %

52

-3

31.3 %

7.6 pp

Pittsburgh, Pa.

16.8 %

8.9 %

47

-5

15.7 %

2.4 pp

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Ore.-Wash.

30.6 %

8.2 %

44

5

23.3 %

2.5 pp

Providence-Warwick, R.I.-Mass.

33.9 %

10.2 %

29

0

8.2 %

1.5 pp

Raleigh-Cary, N.C.

58.2 %

16.2 %

43

5

20.1 %

6.6 pp

Richmond, Va.

20.6 %

12.9 %

36

-5

9.9 %

1.5 pp

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif.

52.4 %

12.6 %

52

7

18.3 %

4.3 pp

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, Calif.

49.6 %

13.1 %

38

6

17.9 %

3.3 pp

San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas

20.1 %

9.5 %

58

4

25.6 %

2.4 pp

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, Calif.

70.1 %

14.4 %

37

4

17.8 %

5.9 pp

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif.

42.6 %

5.5 %

33

6

13.4 %

4.1 pp

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.

67.6 %

2.4 %

24

3

12.0 %

4.3 pp

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash.

50.1 %

7.5 %

30

2

14.4 %

5.6 pp

St. Louis, Mo.-Ill.

16.8 %

0.6 %

39

4

13.5 %

1.5 pp

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.

32.1 %

6.0 %

58

6

29.3 %

1.8 pp

Tucson, Ariz.

56.5 %

14.9 %

51

6

23.5 %

4.6 pp

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, Va.-N.C.

32.1 %

9.4 %

35

3

16.0 %

2.2 pp

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-Va.-Md.-W. Va.

69.3 %

16.1 %

25

-5

13.8 %

3.6 pp

Methodology
Realtor.com housing data as of April 2025. Listings include the active inventory of existing single-family homes and condos/townhomes/row homes/co-ops for the given level of geography on Realtor.com; new construction is excluded unless listed via an MLS that provides listing data to Realtor.com. Realtor.com data history goes back to July 2016. The 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB-202301) and Claritas 2025 estimates of household counts. With the release of its January 2025 housing trends report, Realtor.com® has restated data points for some previous months. As a result of these changes, some of the data released since January 2025 will not be directly comparable with previous data releases (files downloaded before January 2025) and Realtor.com® economics research reports.

About Realtor.com®
Realtor.com® pioneered online real estate and has been at the forefront for over 25 years, connecting buyers, sellers, and renters with trusted insights, professional guidance and powerful tools to help them find their perfect home. Recognized as the No. 1 site trusted by real estate professionals, Realtor.com® is a valued partner, delivering consumer connections and a robust suite of marketing tools to support business growth. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc.

Media contact:  Asees Singh, press@realtor.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/americans-need-to-earn-70-1-more-today-than-six-years-ago-to-afford-the-median-priced-home-302443374.html

SOURCE Realtor.com

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Technology

Football Tournament Season Sparks Global Social Connection Surge as 3Fun Reports Growth Across Key Markets

Published

54 minutes ago

on

July 18, 2026

By

NEW YORK, July 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the World Cup enters its final stage and fans celebrate across the globe, new data from 3Fun, the leading dating app for open-minded singles and partners, reveals that the World Cup’s impact extends far beyond the stadium. The tournament has ignited a massive surge in global social activity, with users increasingly turning to the platform to translate sporting euphoria into personal connections.

The “Celebratory Intimacy” Effect: Why Winning Drives Matching

Psychological research has long suggested that major sports victories do more than just boost national pride; they influence human biology and intimacy. Studies indicate that watching a favorite team win can temporarily elevate testosterone levels in fans, leading to a surge in sexual desire and “celebratory intimacy”. This theory is vividly reflected in 3Fun’s latest performance metrics.

Compared with the previous 20-day period, 3Fun saw a 6.13% increase in Daily Active Users (DAU) during the peak of the World Cup season (June 23 – July 12), adding more than 275,000 active participants. The platform’s “heat” was further evidenced by an additional 446,491 messages sent, while the user match rate jumped by 5.71%, resulting in nearly 50,000 new connections.

Spain and Argentina Lead the “Lust for Victory”

The data shows a direct correlation between success on the pitch and activity on 3Fun. Nations with deep football cultures and strong tournament performances saw the highest growth:

Spain: Witnessed a staggering 37.56% surge in new users.Argentina: Followed with a 26.62% increase.France & Mexico: Saw growth rates of 25.44% and 21.42% respectively.

In the U.S., cities like Houston (+8.98%) and New York (+7.45%) led the way. This trend aligns with a broader cultural shift: recent 3Fun data reveals that 69% of Americans report a growing interest in non-traditional relationships, with 77% of seekers preferring dating apps to find compatible partners.

Digital Jet-Setting: 3Fun’s “Roaming” Feature Becomes a Fan Favorite

While millions traveled for the games, many more “traveled” virtually. 3Fun’s new Roaming feature, currently in gray-scale testing, allows users to explore connections beyond their current location by virtually discovering communities in other cities.

The top 10 “Roaming” destinations during the Football Tournament  season reveal where the world’s social interest was concentrated:

Sao Paulo, Brazil (17.35% of total roaming volume)New York, USA (14.82%)Las Vegas, USA (11.37%)Los Angeles, USA (11.19%)London, UK (9.89%)Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (7.40%)Houston, USA (7.36%)Dallas, USA (7.18%)Miami, USA (6.85%)Chicago, USA (6.60%).

The dominance of Brazilian cities like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro highlights a “digital pilgrimage” to the spiritual home of football, where users sought to connect with the local energy and like-minded fans.

3Fun Insight: Connection Beyond the Game

“Major global events like the World Cup bring people together far beyond the borders of the pitch,” said Daniel Morgan, 3Fun’s Director of Social Trends. “Our data shows that users aren’t just looking for scores; they are looking for meaningful, shared experiences. Whether through virtual roaming or local matching, these events create unique windows for people to explore their desires in a safe, celebratory, and inclusive community”.

Daniel further noted, “With 72% of users noticing growing acceptance of diverse relationship styles, global sports events such as the World Cup represent a moment when people feel more open to meeting others and exploring new forms of connection”.

About 3Fun: With over 10 million downloads and 3 million verified active users worldwide, 3Fun is the leading dating app for open-minded singles and partners to meet like-minded people. The platform provides a safe and inclusive space to explore ethical open relationships and polyamory, fostering community and connection without judgment. 

Disclaimer: 3Fun is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by FIFA, the World Cup, or any official World Cup organizing body. All references to the tournament are descriptive or for informational and topical context only.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/football-tournament-season-sparks-global-social-connection-surge-as-3fun-reports-growth-across-key-markets-302828995.html

SOURCE 3Fun

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Best AI Design Tools (2026): CapCut Named a Top Choice for Creating Images and Marketing Assets by Software Experts

Published

2 hours ago

on

July 18, 2026

By

NEW YORK, July 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Software Experts has recognized CapCut as a top choice among AI design tools for 2026, citing its AI Design Studio as a standout resource for creating images and marketing assets. The recognition points to the platform’s combination of automated layout generation, image editing, and campaign focused features built for marketers, e-commerce sellers, and content creators.

Best AI Design Tools

CapCut AI Design Studio – a web based design workspace that uses AI to help users create ads, product visuals, and branded content without prior design experience.

Core Capabilities of the AI Design Studio

The AI Design Studio is built around a conversational, infinite canvas that allows users to work with an AI design agent in real time. Instead of starting from a blank template, users type a prompt, upload reference images, and receive layout options generated automatically.

The latest version, Design 2.0, brings references, drafts, assets, and edits into a single workspace. Features include pencil prompting for visual editing, smart layer split for separating subjects and backgrounds, and a One More function that generates new creative directions from an existing design. Users can circle, brush, or mark up an image directly to guide how the AI adjusts a design, rather than relying only on written prompts.

An inspiration hub with built in assets and license free images is also part of the workspace, helping users start projects without sourcing outside materials. Layers for text, subjects, and backgrounds remain editable throughout the process, which allows for adjustments without regenerating an entire design from scratch.

Applications for E-Commerce and Marketing Teams

The AI Design Studio supports several common business use cases, including product content creation, trend based design remixing, and clothing visualization for fashion brands. These features are designed to reduce the time spent on repetitive production tasks, particularly for teams that need to update visuals frequently.

For e-commerce sellers, the tool can generate product main images, banners, and packaging designs from a single uploaded photo, and supports batch replacement across shared backgrounds. A seller managing multiple product lines can apply the same background and layout across different items with one click, rather than recreating each asset individually.

Fashion brands can use the AI clothing try-on feature to visualize how garments appear on different models, helping with catalog updates during seasonal campaigns such as Black Friday. Marketing and social teams can generate assets in multiple styles and resize them automatically for different platforms, which helps maintain consistency across channels without manual reformatting. The trend remixing feature also allows brands to reference the structure of a popular design while keeping the content original to their own products.

Design Automation Powered by Seedream 5.0

For marketing posters and layout heavy assets, the AI Design Studio incorporates the Seedream 5.0 model, which is ranked first on Artificial Analysis’ Text-to-Image Leaderboard. The model is used to arrange visual elements, generate multiple layout variations, and handle typesetting automatically based on uploaded product images.

This approach is intended to reduce the manual work involved in formatting marketing materials. Uploading one or more product photos allows the system to generate several layout options, positioning text, imagery, and other elements without requiring manual placement. Once a layout is generated, users can continue refining it with stickers, filters, or additional effects within the same workspace.

The process is designed to move from prompt to a finished, ready to use asset without requiring separate design software. For teams producing large volumes of seasonal or promotional content, this can reduce the number of tools involved in a single campaign.

Why AI Design Tools Matter for Small Teams

AI design tools are becoming useful because many teams need more visual content than traditional workflows can comfortably support. The Software Experts review notes that marketers, creators, and small businesses often need product images, social graphics, banners, email headers, event posters, and campaign visuals on tight timelines.

For small teams, the main advantage is not simply automation. It is the ability to get to a workable draft faster. Starting from a blank canvas can slow down campaign production, especially when a team is managing several platforms or product lines. AI-assisted design tools can generate starting points, resize assets, suggest layouts, and help keep visuals consistent across channels.

Access and Getting Started

The AI Design Studio is accessible through CapCut desktop by selecting Design Agent from the main dashboard. Users enter a text prompt describing the desired output, optionally upload reference images, and review the generated results.

A typical workflow might involve uploading a reference photo and entering a detailed prompt describing a desired style, color palette, or setting. The AI then generates initial design options based on that input. The built in editor allows for further adjustments, including color changes, auto cutout, element removal, and text overlays, before the final image is downloaded in high resolution.

Software Experts noted that the AI Design Studio is suited to a range of users, from e-commerce sellers managing large catalogs to individual creators producing social media content, as well as marketing teams handling multiple campaigns at once. The tool is offered as part of CapCut’s existing platform, with pricing details available directly through CapCut.

Readers can find the full review at Software Experts.

About CapCut

CapCut is an AI-powered photo and video editing platform designed to make high-quality video creation accessible across devices. The platform supports creators, businesses, and everyday users with tools for video editing, AI video generation, captions, templates, audio, and visual editing. CapCut is available across mobile, web, desktop, and iPad experiences, helping users create, edit, and prepare video content for social media, marketing, education, and personal projects.

About Software Experts: Software Experts delivers in-depth news on the digital tools shaping today’s consumer experience. As an affiliate, Software Experts may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/best-ai-design-tools-2026-capcut-named-a-top-choice-for-creating-images-and-marketing-assets-by-software-experts-302828625.html

SOURCE SoftwareExperts.org

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Technology

Best AI Design Tools (2026): CapCut Named a Top Choice for Creating Images and Marketing Assets by Software Experts

Published

2 hours ago

on

July 18, 2026

By

NEW YORK, July 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Software Experts has recognized CapCut as a top choice among AI design tools for 2026, citing its AI Design Studio as a standout resource for creating images and marketing assets. The recognition points to the platform’s combination of automated layout generation, image editing, and campaign focused features built for marketers, e-commerce sellers, and content creators.

Best AI Design Tools

CapCut AI Design Studio – a web based design workspace that uses AI to help users create ads, product visuals, and branded content without prior design experience.

Core Capabilities of the AI Design Studio

The AI Design Studio is built around a conversational, infinite canvas that allows users to work with an AI design agent in real time. Instead of starting from a blank template, users type a prompt, upload reference images, and receive layout options generated automatically.

The latest version, Design 2.0, brings references, drafts, assets, and edits into a single workspace. Features include pencil prompting for visual editing, smart layer split for separating subjects and backgrounds, and a One More function that generates new creative directions from an existing design. Users can circle, brush, or mark up an image directly to guide how the AI adjusts a design, rather than relying only on written prompts.

An inspiration hub with built in assets and license free images is also part of the workspace, helping users start projects without sourcing outside materials. Layers for text, subjects, and backgrounds remain editable throughout the process, which allows for adjustments without regenerating an entire design from scratch.

Applications for E-Commerce and Marketing Teams

The AI Design Studio supports several common business use cases, including product content creation, trend based design remixing, and clothing visualization for fashion brands. These features are designed to reduce the time spent on repetitive production tasks, particularly for teams that need to update visuals frequently.

For e-commerce sellers, the tool can generate product main images, banners, and packaging designs from a single uploaded photo, and supports batch replacement across shared backgrounds. A seller managing multiple product lines can apply the same background and layout across different items with one click, rather than recreating each asset individually.

Fashion brands can use the AI clothing try-on feature to visualize how garments appear on different models, helping with catalog updates during seasonal campaigns such as Black Friday. Marketing and social teams can generate assets in multiple styles and resize them automatically for different platforms, which helps maintain consistency across channels without manual reformatting. The trend remixing feature also allows brands to reference the structure of a popular design while keeping the content original to their own products.

Design Automation Powered by Seedream 5.0

For marketing posters and layout heavy assets, the AI Design Studio incorporates the Seedream 5.0 model, which is ranked first on Artificial Analysis’ Text-to-Image Leaderboard. The model is used to arrange visual elements, generate multiple layout variations, and handle typesetting automatically based on uploaded product images.

This approach is intended to reduce the manual work involved in formatting marketing materials. Uploading one or more product photos allows the system to generate several layout options, positioning text, imagery, and other elements without requiring manual placement. Once a layout is generated, users can continue refining it with stickers, filters, or additional effects within the same workspace.

The process is designed to move from prompt to a finished, ready to use asset without requiring separate design software. For teams producing large volumes of seasonal or promotional content, this can reduce the number of tools involved in a single campaign.

Why AI Design Tools Matter for Small Teams

AI design tools are becoming useful because many teams need more visual content than traditional workflows can comfortably support. The Software Experts review notes that marketers, creators, and small businesses often need product images, social graphics, banners, email headers, event posters, and campaign visuals on tight timelines.

For small teams, the main advantage is not simply automation. It is the ability to get to a workable draft faster. Starting from a blank canvas can slow down campaign production, especially when a team is managing several platforms or product lines. AI-assisted design tools can generate starting points, resize assets, suggest layouts, and help keep visuals consistent across channels.

Access and Getting Started

The AI Design Studio is accessible through CapCut desktop by selecting Design Agent from the main dashboard. Users enter a text prompt describing the desired output, optionally upload reference images, and review the generated results.

A typical workflow might involve uploading a reference photo and entering a detailed prompt describing a desired style, color palette, or setting. The AI then generates initial design options based on that input. The built in editor allows for further adjustments, including color changes, auto cutout, element removal, and text overlays, before the final image is downloaded in high resolution.

Software Experts noted that the AI Design Studio is suited to a range of users, from e-commerce sellers managing large catalogs to individual creators producing social media content, as well as marketing teams handling multiple campaigns at once. The tool is offered as part of CapCut’s existing platform, with pricing details available directly through CapCut.

Readers can find the full review at Software Experts.

About CapCut

CapCut is an AI-powered photo and video editing platform designed to make high-quality video creation accessible across devices. The platform supports creators, businesses, and everyday users with tools for video editing, AI video generation, captions, templates, audio, and visual editing. CapCut is available across mobile, web, desktop, and iPad experiences, helping users create, edit, and prepare video content for social media, marketing, education, and personal projects.

About Software Experts: Software Experts delivers in-depth news on the digital tools shaping today’s consumer experience. As an affiliate, Software Experts may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/best-ai-design-tools-2026-capcut-named-a-top-choice-for-creating-images-and-marketing-assets-by-software-experts-302828625.html

SOURCE SoftwareExperts.org

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