Can you afford to live where you work? Local expert talks housing in 2026

JACKSON, Tenn. — As costs continue to rise across the country, buying a new home is becoming unattainable for many Americans.

It poses the question: Can you afford to live where you work?

Every day, workers across West Tennessee head to jobs that keep our communities running. But for some, finding a place to live close to work is becoming harder to afford.

We sat down with Victoria Saveh, a local real estate agent, who paints the picture of today’s housing market.

“Homes are sitting a little bit longer. We have seen a shift as well with the prices, so what they were selling for last year, it’s kind of shifted down a little bit,” said Saveh.

More and more ‘for sale’ or ‘for rent’ signs are being posted throughout neighborhoods.

Saveh says potential buyers are still afraid of interest rates.

“People are still scared of rates, and they are trying to stick to renting,” said Saveh. Rental prices are steadily going up, so if you’re able to buy, there is definitely a price point that you could find, you just might want to adjust your expectations a little bit.”

According to Zillow, the average rental price in Jackson sits at $1,400 dollars. This has led many people to look outside of the city limits for affordable housing.

“People are absolutely willing to commute if they can get that monthly payment where they would like it. Average is 20 minutes, but we have buyers up to 45 minutes that are willing to drive,” said Saveh.

Saveh says within Madison County, the average home sell price is about $220,000. She encourages potential home buyers to aim for your mortgage payment to be about 25% of your income.

Local real estate experts say 2026 buyers should focus on getting pre-approved early, know their budget, and be flexible on ideal locations.

For more local news, click here.