Why Is It So Hard to Buy a House in America Right Now?

<p><i>This episode contains strong language.</i></p><p>When Drew Mena and Amena Sengal decided last year to sell their home in New York and relocate their young family to Austin, Texas, they figured they’d have no problem.</p><p>What they hadn’t realized was that, across the country, home prices — and competition to secure properties — had risen to jaw-dropping levels.</p><p>Guest: Francesca Mari, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and a fellow at the think tank New America.</p><p>Want more from The Daily? For one big idea on the news each week from our team, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline">subscribe to our newsletter</a>. </p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>Soaring demand, pinched supply, regular buyers acting like speculators …<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/12/magazine/real-estate-pandemic.html"> will real estate ever be normal again?</a></li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p>