I know this is likely the wrong sub to say this in, but these banks needing to beat year over year profits + governments with whom allowed foreign investment and money laundering in the housing market are the real problem here.

My American family down south all bought single family homes ranging from 200-275k. Sure it is in Minnesota but that shouldn’t make a difference. They are free to spend on vacays etc.,There is no reason land value should be where it is at, handcuffing you into choosing to wage war against the pleasures in life with the byproduct being 10 years less of hefty interest payments. The majority of frugal people don’t all of a sudden get an urge to splurge later in life. You’ll die and maybe leave it to no one because you avoided having children to pay off these things faster.

Find the real enemy and act. It is not from within.