> So, what the fuck is going on?
It's a great question. I know a couple with a pre-tax household income of $180k that just paid $600,000 for a house with $50k down. Napkin math leads me to believe they're spending approximately 50% of their take home income just on mortgage+tax+insurance payments, assuming nothing in their house needs maintenance or repair. This house was sold for $350k in 2016. Is everyone just financially ruining themselves to check the "house" box on a middle class life checklist?