Rocket Companies Inc., through a Redfin analysis, has identified the suburbs of St. Louis as the most affordable places in the U.S. to buy a home. The report highlights Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO, where a typical household spends just 16% of their income on housing-the lowest in the nation. Other affordable cities include Ferguson, MO; Detroit, MI; Broussard, LA; and Bayou Cane, LA, all with households spending less than 19% of their income on housing. Nationwide, the average homeowner spends 39% of their income on housing, surpassing the recommended 30% threshold. The analysis notes that affordability is currently greatest in the Midwest and South, particularly in the Rust Belt, where median home sale prices remain near or below $300,000. Redfin predicts that housing affordability will gradually improve in 2026 and beyond as wages are expected to rise faster than housing costs for the first time since the Great Recession. However, the report cautions that a sustained improvement depends on increased homebuilding to address years of unmet demand.