Sharing a 2br is even cheaper. And this is only if one wants to buy a house all-cash.
Another traditional route to homeownership in Midwestern cities is purchasing a 2-family house. The tenant's rent generally covers the house's mortgage, even at today's interest rates: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/701-Broad-St-Menasha-WI-5...?
They couldn't be more wrong.
While the forklift driver is slowly saving 10k a year for a 150k house, the SF bro is saving 50k a year for a similar house for $1M. Guess who gets to the target first.
Of course, one may choose to work harder than average to make more than the average.
> I seriously do not think that is possible
Rents can be very low in these kinds of places, especially if you're young and willing to share a house with others. I personally knew a couple who spent less than $20k a year on all household expenses; granted it was a few years ago, but they weren't even in a very low CoL area.
Work 60 hours a week for 15 years so you can buy a 150k house?
I'm sure there are plenty of 18 years old willing to do that. /s