The Camden house you didn’t buy in 1998
A $300,000 house at 1998’s average index level, tracked to 2026 Q2.
The metro index went from 106.7 (the 1998 average) to 374.0 in 2026 Q2, 3.5× its 1998 level. That makes a $300,000 purchase about $1.05M today.
With 20% down ($60,000) and a 30-year loan at 1998’s average rate of 6.94%, today’s equity is about $1.02M, 17× the down payment.
The same $60,000 down payment, put in an S&P 500 index fund instead (the TSP C Fund, dividends reinvested), was worth $675,261 at the end of August 2026, the latest month the fund has reported at tsp.gov.
Run your own numbers for 1998 →
House figures are estimates for the whole metro market, from the FHFA index. Not financial advice.
FAQ
What is a 1998 Camden house worth today?
About $1.05M for a $300,000 house, a 3.5× market multiple to 2026 Q2 by the FHFA all-transactions index for Camden, NJ.
Why use an index instead of listings?
The FHFA index is built from repeat transactions on the same homes, so it controls for the mix of what happens to be for sale.
Is this investment advice?
No. This is historical arithmetic for education and entertainment.