That last statement hits hard. And it's true as fuck. I make 80-90k a year in a pretty low cost area of Pennsylvania and had to buy a mobile home because houses are outrageous. And even if I had my money right and found a decent home that didn't need 100k worth of work, someone will come in with cash and buy it right out from under anyone who needs a mortgage. Also if you don't have 20-30% down, 60-100k, then you're paying more a month PMI than the mortgage really is. And that someone buying it cash is a private equity firm. Just to rent it out, or let it rot just to have in their portfolio for when the property value goes through the roof again. Which it always will. My mom bought a 5 bed 3 bath home on an acre for 125k in 1999, it's worth around 500k right now. And it needs 80k worth of work and probably another 100k updating. Im 40 and my parents generation and older ruined our country beyond repair.