The Eau Claire house you didn’t buy in 2017
A $300,000 house at 2017’s average index level, tracked to 2026 Q2.
The metro index went from 214.9 (the 2017 average) to 413.9 in 2026 Q2, 1.9× its 2017 level. That makes a $300,000 purchase about $577,822 today.
With 20% down ($60,000) and a 30-year loan at 2017’s average rate of 3.99%, today’s equity is about $382,745, 6.4× 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 $220,208 at the end of August 2026, the latest month the fund has reported at tsp.gov.
Run your own numbers for 2017 →
House figures are estimates for the whole metro market, from the FHFA index. Not financial advice.
FAQ
What is a 2017 Eau Claire house worth today?
About $577,822 for a $300,000 house, a 1.9× market multiple to 2026 Q2 by the FHFA all-transactions index for Eau Claire, WI.
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.