I'm a Zillow economist who analyzes housing data for a living. Even I found it difficult to buy a home.

• 04/02/2025, 5:09 PM
• businessinsider.com

Daniel Berman/Photo by Daniel Berman

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Orphe Divounguy, a senior economist at Zillow. In April, Divounguy purchased a home in Raleigh, North Carolina. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.