Ali Tarzi - a 2013 SDLA Fellow and Associate Vice President of Classes and Coaching at Community HousingWorks - spoke with NBC San Diego about a Trulia report that lists San Diego as 5th least affordable housing market for the middle class in the nation.

San Diego Ranked Among Least Affordable Housing Markets

Chris Chan and Monica Garske, nbcsandiego.com, October 11, 2013

...Ali Tarzi, of Community Housing Works, counsels homebuyers when they're ready to purchase homes.

Tarzi says the recent rise in home prices have left a lot of people waiting for a housing opportunity to come along that fits their budget.

"We have a lot of families who want to take advantage of the low – still low interest rates, but going up – but still historically low. They're ready; they even have their down payment, they're just priced out of the market and there's nothing available," Tarzi explained.

But, for those who don't own homes, Tarzi says there are some benefits.

"Renters have the freedom to move where work is, and where the jobs are," Tarzi said.

However, there are some downsides to renting, including dealing with the whims of a landlord since renters aren't necessarily able to lock-in their expenses for housing.

"What we're noticing is increases in their rent," said Tarzi. "So every time they sign their lease agreement, [rent] bumps up a little bit."...

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