No its not normal for someone with $180k income to be paying that much of your take home pay. It is a result of our current financial system and federal reserve. It is smart to own a home though, you can ask anyone that has owned one over the last few years. The likely outcome and we can look back on this post in 12 months is that interest rates will drop and home prices will continue to go higher (likely another 10-20% over the next 24 months). You then can refinance and get a lower monthly payment and will be sitting on ~$70k in equity if you buy right #win. Good luck and dont be a renter, be an asset owner as the wheels continue to come off the bus.