I was so close and now I’m shut out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does 1 person need a 1.7M property? I mean, I sympathize, OP. We were in the same exact position, but as a family of 4, so buying a modest 3br in our hood was our aim. Now we’ll be renting forever. If I were you, I’d buy a close in 2br condo in a great neighborhood and build equity.

She has kids.

I have a husband and two kids and we live in a 3BR 3.5BA townhouse we're about to sell for $700K. We're in a good neighborhood in close-in NOVA with good schools. In fact, our neighbor across the street is a single mom with two kids -- the house is perfect for that. Not sure why OP is feeling entitled to a $1.3 Million dollar McMansion.

The quoted PP said a single person doesn’t need that. Your comment is all about you. She’s not entitled, she’s frustrated and disappointed that housing here increased drastically and rapidly. Why throw in McMansion? You’re trying to insult her multiple times but you just sound bitter, angry and jealous. The crappy housing situation here does that to people but no need to take it out on another person who’s unhappy about it.

Everyone trying to buy is frustrated. I think people are saying OP is entitled or asking for too much because she's basically saying that the way most of us live around here is terrible and depressing and intolerable. That's a little insulting.

Ah. There’s the root of the problem. You’re taking it personally.

[Anonymous]

OP is an entitled snob who can’t stomach the idea of purchasing an average SFH somewhere like Fairfax County despite showing a lot of evidence that she is unwilling to take even the level of risk a much poorer homebuyer is willing to accept. OP should continue renting where she belongs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does 1 person need a 1.7M property? I mean, I sympathize, OP. We were in the same exact position, but as a family of 4, so buying a modest 3br in our hood was our aim. Now we’ll be renting forever. If I were you, I’d buy a close in 2br condo in a great neighborhood and build equity.

She has kids.

I have a husband and two kids and we live in a 3BR 3.5BA townhouse we're about to sell for $700K. We're in a good neighborhood in close-in NOVA with good schools. In fact, our neighbor across the street is a single mom with two kids -- the house is perfect for that. Not sure why OP is feeling entitled to a $1.3 Million dollar McMansion.

The quoted PP said a single person doesn’t need that. Your comment is all about you. She’s not entitled, she’s frustrated and disappointed that housing here increased drastically and rapidly. Why throw in McMansion? You’re trying to insult her multiple times but you just sound bitter, angry and jealous. The crappy housing situation here does that to people but no need to take it out on another person who’s unhappy about it.

Everyone trying to buy is frustrated. I think people are saying OP is entitled or asking for too much because she's basically saying that the way most of us live around here is terrible and depressing and intolerable. That's a little insulting.

Ah. There’s the root of the problem. You’re taking it personally.

Not PP, but I'm not personally insulted. I just think it's ridiculous to be whining about not being able to afford a $1.7 mil home when the vast, vast majority of people in this HCOL area do just fine with cheaper housing.

Don't go to the super fancy restaurant and complain that inflation increased your dinner from $400 to $500, so now you'll never be able to eat out again. Just go to the $100 restaurant, or even the $300 restaurant. Jeez. Expecting the people who cook at home every night to feel bad for you is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does 1 person need a 1.7M property? I mean, I sympathize, OP. We were in the same exact position, but as a family of 4, so buying a modest 3br in our hood was our aim. Now we’ll be renting forever. If I were you, I’d buy a close in 2br condo in a great neighborhood and build equity.

She has kids.

I have a husband and two kids and we live in a 3BR 3.5BA townhouse we're about to sell for $700K. We're in a good neighborhood in close-in NOVA with good schools. In fact, our neighbor across the street is a single mom with two kids -- the house is perfect for that. Not sure why OP is feeling entitled to a $1.3 Million dollar McMansion.

The quoted PP said a single person doesn’t need that. Your comment is all about you. She’s not entitled, she’s frustrated and disappointed that housing here increased drastically and rapidly. Why throw in McMansion? You’re trying to insult her multiple times but you just sound bitter, angry and jealous. The crappy housing situation here does that to people but no need to take it out on another person who’s unhappy about it.

Everyone trying to buy is frustrated. I think people are saying OP is entitled or asking for too much because she's basically saying that the way most of us live around here is terrible and depressing and intolerable. That's a little insulting.

Ah. There’s the root of the problem. You’re taking it personally.

Not PP, but I'm not personally insulted. I just think it's ridiculous to be whining about not being able to afford a $1.7 mil home when the vast, vast majority of people in this HCOL area do just fine with cheaper housing.

Don't go to the super fancy restaurant and complain that inflation increased your dinner from $400 to $500, so now you'll never be able to eat out again. Just go to the $100 restaurant, or even the $300 restaurant. Jeez. Expecting the people who cook at home every night to feel bad for you is ridiculous.

You’re missing the point. Prices jumped by 30-40% in a short time. If you don’t want to discuss this, you can leave the thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does 1 person need a 1.7M property? I mean, I sympathize, OP. We were in the same exact position, but as a family of 4, so buying a modest 3br in our hood was our aim. Now we’ll be renting forever. If I were you, I’d buy a close in 2br condo in a great neighborhood and build equity.

She has kids.

I have a husband and two kids and we live in a 3BR 3.5BA townhouse we're about to sell for $700K. We're in a good neighborhood in close-in NOVA with good schools. In fact, our neighbor across the street is a single mom with two kids -- the house is perfect for that. Not sure why OP is feeling entitled to a $1.3 Million dollar McMansion.

The quoted PP said a single person doesn’t need that. Your comment is all about you. She’s not entitled, she’s frustrated and disappointed that housing here increased drastically and rapidly. Why throw in McMansion? You’re trying to insult her multiple times but you just sound bitter, angry and jealous. The crappy housing situation here does that to people but no need to take it out on another person who’s unhappy about it.

Everyone trying to buy is frustrated. I think people are saying OP is entitled or asking for too much because she's basically saying that the way most of us live around here is terrible and depressing and intolerable. That's a little insulting.

Ah. There’s the root of the problem. You’re taking it personally.

Not PP, but I'm not personally insulted. I just think it's ridiculous to be whining about not being able to afford a $1.7 mil home when the vast, vast majority of people in this HCOL area do just fine with cheaper housing.

Don't go to the super fancy restaurant and complain that inflation increased your dinner from $400 to $500, so now you'll never be able to eat out again. Just go to the $100 restaurant, or even the $300 restaurant. Jeez. Expecting the people who cook at home every night to feel bad for you is ridiculous.

You’re missing the point. Prices jumped by 30-40% in a short time. If you don’t want to discuss this, you can leave the thread.

I understand the point and the price jump. But the options are still the same. Find a cheaper house to buy, or don't.

I sympathize that prices have gone up, and if OP were at the lower end of the spectrum and now could not afford to buy anything, then I would feel bad.

But OP can still afford a million dollar house! And there are still homes to buy for under a million, including looking at options such as TH.

OP is asking people for sympathy, many of whom have never and could never afford a million dollar home of any kind. It's tone deaf and entitled.

[Anonymous]

I understand your frustration, OP. But what's done is done and you can't change it. Instead of mourning what you lost, come up with a new plan and move forward. You are in solid financial shape and have multiple options.

If I were you, I'd find a less expensive home and spend the money you won't be putting into a mortgage making it exactly as you like.

[Anonymous]

Some of us got hit by the housing crash about a decade ago and lost money with our starter homes. That sucked too, but life went on and we found a place to live even if it wasn’t our dream home. Don’t feel too bad - most of us have lost out in some way due to bad luck with our timing.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm also a single parent. In 2018 I started a business that did better than expected, so in 2019, I briefly considered buying my dream home in a dream neighborhood. But the business was so new, I worried the new income wouldn't last, so I stayed put.

In 2020 I considered buying a dream home again, but then the pandemic hit so I stayed put.

Thought about it again in 2021, but it felt like the real estate "peak" so I stayed put.

Two years later, the business is doing fine but I'm currently priced out of the dream home.

In retrospect I should have pulled the trigger in 2019, 2020, or 2021, but at the time, my choice not to was reasonable. Those could have been terrible times to buy if any number of things had gone differently.

Our situations are different in that I did buy a starter home so have some equity. But it's still disappointing to realize you missed a window. I try to focus on the positive: I like my neighborhood and enjoy my neighbors; maybe that wouldn't have been true in the theoretical dream home. My house is solidly built and requires low maintenance (knock wood); a new home would be unknown in that department. Without a big mortgage, I can put more money toward the kids' educations and retirement savings. Your positives will be different, but at your price point they do exist.

Also, I need to remind myself that every time I reach a stretch goal (starting a successful business is one) I think -- "There, I did it. Now I will be utterly fulfilled because I achieved this thing that I wanted so badly." And that's never true, because I have a striver personality. I always want more/different. So even if I'd gotten the dream home, at some point I would've looked around and gone, "Eh. This is fine, but now I want ...(fill in the blank)."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is correct. Houses in my neighborhood that would have been $1.2 a few years ago are now going for $1.6 or more. It is depressing for those of us who were looking and could have bought but didn't do it quickly enough and now find that we missed the boat. But it really doesn't help to dwell on it! You can only move forward from where you are and who knows what the future will bring.

Same. We’re now priced out of a neighborhood we love and hoped to buy in.

It’s pathetic that so many of the people on this forum can’t have compassion for people priced out by a ridiculous and unimaginable sharp increase in such a short time. Just confirms my suspicions that half of you are corporate slumlords, brokers, and builders greedy for cash.

Same here. We were looking and could have bought but thought we would be patient for the right fit. Now we are having to look at much lower quality houses at a higher price. I don't really understand why people on this forum can't understand how that would be disappointing. Imagine you wanted to book an airline ticket, you wait a day to confirm your travel dates and all the sudden the ticket price jumped by 40 percent. Wouldn't you be regretful and disappointed? Now instead of your holiday to Rome, you are looking at spending even more money to go to Atlantic City. And no, I am not trying to start a debate on the merits of Atlantic City vis a vis Rome - it is just an example!

I get it, I really do. It feels like the housing market is moving faster than “normal” buyers can keep up with.

I think the negative reaction to this thread is that OP had $1.2m to spend on a house while rates are low and yet … didn’t. Why? Clearly she could have bought a home but was unwilling to jump in. Or was picky about what was on the market?

She is 50. I am 38. I graduated into a recession. Many of my kids’ friends’ parents are 40s to even 50. They bought houses while I was still in HS or college! OP had SO much more opportunity than me to be an adult when the housing market was more affordable, but never bought anything. I now live in a house that is valued less than $1.2 even following the COVID price run up. We paid 800k back in 2018, but I’m sure she’d thumb her nose at my house. So I’m just having a hard time feeling sorry for her. And with a 300k HHI I know I’m part of the UMC, but OP thinks not being able to afford the $1.7m house makes her MC. Just not a very sympathetic poster.

If OP were a 30 year old who had just finally scrounged together a DP and they were bummed a 500-700k house is now close to 900k+, I would feel bad for them.

You know nothing about her life so you have no reason to be so judgmental. You’re assuming her life was just like yours and you’re shaming her for not making the decisions you would have made in your life. Nonsense.

Sure sure sure, but OP has also made cringe statements about never becoming “upper middle class,” and has acted like a victim at every turn. (The market, a landlord who won’t negotiate with her, no one will want to marry her, etc.) And all this despite being in a stronger financial than the majority of people in this area.

The best I can say is that, if this is the type of person she is in real life and not just blowing off steam, is that I hope she had a therapist or at least a loving friend she can talk to. Someone in that mindset is never going to be happy. For her own sake, as well as her kids’ wellbeing, something has to change.

This is concern trolling and IMO bullying behavior. Stop throwing the word "therapy" around like an underhanded insult (yes, it's clear your are using that work to take a dig at her). It contributes to the stigma around mental illness and is offensive.

Fair enough; I don’t see reference to therapy or hoping someone has a trusted friend to talk to as a dig—but as someone who has suffered from depression, including a nasty bout of postpartum depression, I also don’t see much point beating around the bush or encouraging wallowing. You’re right my words weren’t worded as well as they could be.

To OP, in all honesty I hope you find something that’ll make you happy—but truly, it sounds like you have many blessings and I hope you can focus on those.

You were bashing her as a terrible person who "has acted like a victim at every turn" and then said she should see a therapist. Everything you have written is a dig at her. Anyone who is attacking someone else and then suggests they get therapy is a bully and an a-hole. You wanna bash people online? Go ahead, but don't pretend by bashing them and then telling them to get therapy that you are trying to help them. It's so transparent and offensive.

Oh wow. Let’s take a step back here—you’re the one who saw references to therapy or, god forbid, having a loved one to talk to as a dig and stigmatizing mental health problems. Guess what? If someone is expressing inarguably outsized negativity while seeing themselves as a victim…getting some decent talk therapy with a trusted professional or at least a compassionate loved one is far from the worst idea. Trust me, I know. And if you think that is offensive, you’re the one who has internalized prejudices when it comes to mental health.

Further, I also noted the possibility that OP could just be using this board to vent, but even if her real-world mental state does indeed match her posts here…nothing I said equates to me calling the OP a “terrible person,” which is your own spin, but rather someone who needs to find a way to be happy.

Now, in my reply to you, I said you were right that I could have phrased my words better and then also said I hoped OP could find something that makes her happy and focus on the apparent blessings (a strong financial position, two kids) in her life. Stand by both statements. If you want to continue to go off on me, have at it. But maybe take a beat before you do and figure out why you’re focusing so heavily on the one poster here who had the audacity to mention the word “therapy” instead of the many others on here who are fixated on the “poor little rich girl” aspect of this mess of a thread.

OP, hope you’re feeling better than you were when you originally posted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is correct. Houses in my neighborhood that would have been $1.2 a few years ago are now going for $1.6 or more. It is depressing for those of us who were looking and could have bought but didn't do it quickly enough and now find that we missed the boat. But it really doesn't help to dwell on it! You can only move forward from where you are and who knows what the future will bring.

Same. We’re now priced out of a neighborhood we love and hoped to buy in.

It’s pathetic that so many of the people on this forum can’t have compassion for people priced out by a ridiculous and unimaginable sharp increase in such a short time. Just confirms my suspicions that half of you are corporate slumlords, brokers, and builders greedy for cash.

Same here. We were looking and could have bought but thought we would be patient for the right fit. Now we are having to look at much lower quality houses at a higher price. I don't really understand why people on this forum can't understand how that would be disappointing. Imagine you wanted to book an airline ticket, you wait a day to confirm your travel dates and all the sudden the ticket price jumped by 40 percent. Wouldn't you be regretful and disappointed? Now instead of your holiday to Rome, you are looking at spending even more money to go to Atlantic City. And no, I am not trying to start a debate on the merits of Atlantic City vis a vis Rome - it is just an example!

I get it, I really do. It feels like the housing market is moving faster than “normal” buyers can keep up with.

I think the negative reaction to this thread is that OP had $1.2m to spend on a house while rates are low and yet … didn’t. Why? Clearly she could have bought a home but was unwilling to jump in. Or was picky about what was on the market?

She is 50. I am 38. I graduated into a recession. Many of my kids’ friends’ parents are 40s to even 50. They bought houses while I was still in HS or college! OP had SO much more opportunity than me to be an adult when the housing market was more affordable, but never bought anything. I now live in a house that is valued less than $1.2 even following the COVID price run up. We paid 800k back in 2018, but I’m sure she’d thumb her nose at my house. So I’m just having a hard time feeling sorry for her. And with a 300k HHI I know I’m part of the UMC, but OP thinks not being able to afford the $1.7m house makes her MC. Just not a very sympathetic poster.

If OP were a 30 year old who had just finally scrounged together a DP and they were bummed a 500-700k house is now close to 900k+, I would feel bad for them.

You know nothing about her life so you have no reason to be so judgmental. You’re assuming her life was just like yours and you’re shaming her for not making the decisions you would have made in your life. Nonsense.

Sure sure sure, but OP has also made cringe statements about never becoming “upper middle class,” and has acted like a victim at every turn. (The market, a landlord who won’t negotiate with her, no one will want to marry her, etc.) And all this despite being in a stronger financial than the majority of people in this area.

The best I can say is that, if this is the type of person she is in real life and not just blowing off steam, is that I hope she had a therapist or at least a loving friend she can talk to. Someone in that mindset is never going to be happy. For her own sake, as well as her kids’ wellbeing, something has to change.

This is concern trolling and IMO bullying behavior. Stop throwing the word "therapy" around like an underhanded insult (yes, it's clear your are using that work to take a dig at her). It contributes to the stigma around mental illness and is offensive.

Fair enough; I don’t see reference to therapy or hoping someone has a trusted friend to talk to as a dig—but as someone who has suffered from depression, including a nasty bout of postpartum depression, I also don’t see much point beating around the bush or encouraging wallowing. You’re right my words weren’t worded as well as they could be.

To OP, in all honesty I hope you find something that’ll make you happy—but truly, it sounds like you have many blessings and I hope you can focus on those.

You were bashing her as a terrible person who "has acted like a victim at every turn" and then said she should see a therapist. Everything you have written is a dig at her. Anyone who is attacking someone else and then suggests they get therapy is a bully and an a-hole. You wanna bash people online? Go ahead, but don't pretend by bashing them and then telling them to get therapy that you are trying to help them. It's so transparent and offensive.

Oh wow. Let’s take a step back here—you’re the one who saw references to therapy or, god forbid, having a loved one to talk to as a dig and stigmatizing mental health problems. Guess what? If someone is expressing inarguably outsized negativity while seeing themselves as a victim…getting some decent talk therapy with a trusted professional or at least a compassionate loved one is far from the worst idea. Trust me, I know. And if you think that is offensive, you’re the one who has internalized prejudices when it comes to mental health.

Further, I also noted the possibility that OP could just be using this board to vent, but even if her real-world mental state does indeed match her posts here…nothing I said equates to me calling the OP a “terrible person,” which is your own spin, but rather someone who needs to find a way to be happy.

Now, in my reply to you, I said you were right that I could have phrased my words better and then also said I hoped OP could find something that makes her happy and focus on the apparent blessings (a strong financial position, two kids) in her life. Stand by both statements. If you want to continue to go off on me, have at it. But maybe take a beat before you do and figure out why you’re focusing so heavily on the one poster here who had the audacity to mention the word “therapy” instead of the many others on here who are fixated on the “poor little rich girl” aspect of this mess of a thread.

OP, hope you’re feeling better than you were when you originally posted.

You are a piece of work and a huge bully pp, whether you are in denial about it or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand your frustration, OP. But what's done is done and you can't change it. Instead of mourning what you lost, come up with a new plan and move forward. You are in solid financial shape and have multiple options.

If I were you, I'd find a less expensive home and spend the money you won't be putting into a mortgage making it exactly as you like.

This is good advice, OP. Take yourself out to dinner in different areas and get a feel for what may fit you best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does 1 person need a 1.7M property? I mean, I sympathize, OP. We were in the same exact position, but as a family of 4, so buying a modest 3br in our hood was our aim. Now we’ll be renting forever. If I were you, I’d buy a close in 2br condo in a great neighborhood and build equity.

She has kids.

I have a husband and two kids and we live in a 3BR 3.5BA townhouse we're about to sell for $700K. We're in a good neighborhood in close-in NOVA with good schools. In fact, our neighbor across the street is a single mom with two kids -- the house is perfect for that. Not sure why OP is feeling entitled to a $1.3 Million dollar McMansion.

The quoted PP said a single person doesn’t need that. Your comment is all about you. She’s not entitled, she’s frustrated and disappointed that housing here increased drastically and rapidly. Why throw in McMansion? You’re trying to insult her multiple times but you just sound bitter, angry and jealous. The crappy housing situation here does that to people but no need to take it out on another person who’s unhappy about it.

Everyone trying to buy is frustrated. I think people are saying OP is entitled or asking for too much because she's basically saying that the way most of us live around here is terrible and depressing and intolerable. That's a little insulting.

Ah. There’s the root of the problem. You’re taking it personally.

Not PP, but I'm not personally insulted. I just think it's ridiculous to be whining about not being able to afford a $1.7 mil home when the vast, vast majority of people in this HCOL area do just fine with cheaper housing.

Don't go to the super fancy restaurant and complain that inflation increased your dinner from $400 to $500, so now you'll never be able to eat out again. Just go to the $100 restaurant, or even the $300 restaurant. Jeez. Expecting the people who cook at home every night to feel bad for you is ridiculous.

You’re missing the point. Prices jumped by 30-40% in a short time. If you don’t want to discuss this, you can leave the thread.

No they didn’t

[Anonymous]

Under a mil
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2754-W-George-Mason-Rd-Falls-Church-VA-22042/51813850_zpid/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does 1 person need a 1.7M property? I mean, I sympathize, OP. We were in the same exact position, but as a family of 4, so buying a modest 3br in our hood was our aim. Now we’ll be renting forever. If I were you, I’d buy a close in 2br condo in a great neighborhood and build equity.

She has kids.

I have a husband and two kids and we live in a 3BR 3.5BA townhouse we're about to sell for $700K. We're in a good neighborhood in close-in NOVA with good schools. In fact, our neighbor across the street is a single mom with two kids -- the house is perfect for that. Not sure why OP is feeling entitled to a $1.3 Million dollar McMansion.

The quoted PP said a single person doesn’t need that. Your comment is all about you. She’s not entitled, she’s frustrated and disappointed that housing here increased drastically and rapidly. Why throw in McMansion? You’re trying to insult her multiple times but you just sound bitter, angry and jealous. The crappy housing situation here does that to people but no need to take it out on another person who’s unhappy about it.

Everyone trying to buy is frustrated. I think people are saying OP is entitled or asking for too much because she's basically saying that the way most of us live around here is terrible and depressing and intolerable. That's a little insulting.

Ah. There’s the root of the problem. You’re taking it personally.

Not PP, but I'm not personally insulted. I just think it's ridiculous to be whining about not being able to afford a $1.7 mil home when the vast, vast majority of people in this HCOL area do just fine with cheaper housing.

Don't go to the super fancy restaurant and complain that inflation increased your dinner from $400 to $500, so now you'll never be able to eat out again. Just go to the $100 restaurant, or even the $300 restaurant. Jeez. Expecting the people who cook at home every night to feel bad for you is ridiculous.

You’re missing the point. Prices jumped by 30-40% in a short time. If you don’t want to discuss this, you can leave the thread.

No they didn’t

They actually did in many areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does 1 person need a 1.7M property? I mean, I sympathize, OP. We were in the same exact position, but as a family of 4, so buying a modest 3br in our hood was our aim. Now we’ll be renting forever. If I were you, I’d buy a close in 2br condo in a great neighborhood and build equity.

She has kids.

I have a husband and two kids and we live in a 3BR 3.5BA townhouse we're about to sell for $700K. We're in a good neighborhood in close-in NOVA with good schools. In fact, our neighbor across the street is a single mom with two kids -- the house is perfect for that. Not sure why OP is feeling entitled to a $1.3 Million dollar McMansion.

The quoted PP said a single person doesn’t need that. Your comment is all about you. She’s not entitled, she’s frustrated and disappointed that housing here increased drastically and rapidly. Why throw in McMansion? You’re trying to insult her multiple times but you just sound bitter, angry and jealous. The crappy housing situation here does that to people but no need to take it out on another person who’s unhappy about it.

Nope, quite the opposite, actually. We're making enough money to afford a really nice house a little further out than where we live. I get OP's frustration - houses that we could have easily afforded 3 years ago are now out of our budget, but unlike OP, we've compromised and we're moving a little further out where can get a newer, nicer, larger home for what we are willing to pay.

p.s. I don't get why OP being a single mom even matters. She clearly makes more money than me and my husband combined if she can afford a $1.3 million dollar home. $1.3 million where I'm moving can, in fact, get you a nice house. Not everyone needs to live in North Arlington or Bethesda. OP needs to compromise and being all "woe is me I'm a single mom" when she clearly has a lot of money does actually make her sound entitled and super annoying. You sound like the bitter one, PP.