Anyone else who will likely never be a home owner?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent our 20s in school, with very low-paying jobs, and saved enough to pay for a downpayment on a home when I turned 30.

We lived VERY frugally to achieve this, given our low incomes. We picked up free furniture left in the trashroom by other residents, bought cheap food on sale, cooked from scratch, never ate out or went to the movies or paid for any sort of entertainment, lived in a crappy one-bedroom (with one, then two kids)...

Most people on DCUM can't even imagine living such a frugal life.

And now we're living a middle class life.

But it took 10 years of lean, lean living to get there. And even now, we budget carefully.

I can relate, as I'm an immigrant and frugal living was a normal for me and my family. Thanks to an extremely frugal mindset and hard work, I own a home that is paid off, worth $1.1 mln; and I'm 45 years old. I don't get all these people, who can't afford a home. Like what the heck were you doing all your life when you're young? You had no savings, no part time jobs? Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for all people with college debt either. You should have gone to community, then transfer to the closest in-state university. That would be much cheaper for you, while you were working of course.

+1. I went to community college and transferred to UVA where my tuition was 11,000 for two years. All in with books snd room and board my student loans were under 40k for a great education. Then I went to work, paid them off, and lived a frugal lifestyle. All my clothes are from the thrift for example, and I drive a ‘97 civic (no it’s not a beater, paint still looks crisp because I garage it). All of my extra money went into rental property. I’m not mega rich, but I own multiple homes.

+2 Or even go to state schools for 4 years. I'm so sick of the snobs on this board who brag about their exclusive schools that are crushing them in debt and never netted them a high-paying job. They made bad financial decisions and now they can't afford to buy a home, because of course any home has to be in the "right" area. I don't feel sorry for them either, and I say this as someone who owned homes in coveted areas plus a beach house. I made choices to get there.

Objectively not true:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Hyattsville/5706-40th-Pl-20781/home/10948896

This is a cute little house in hyattsville for less than 500K

Genuinely confused why you would say this?
It seems like people only want to live in Bethesda and just want to complain about that.




Where do you live? Because here, $800,00 gets you a fixer upper with a squatter. And that’s an hour from the city.

That’s a 45 minute commute with no traffic. And I’m not in my 20s, so I’m not living like that.

Not the pp you're responding to here. You're living outside of your means. I'm amazed at how many people on this board don't understand that they need either a high income or family money to live the way they want. Sure your colleague with the same nonprofit job you have can afford the beautiful home in NWDC/Bethesda/McLean and eating at the hottest restaurants every weekend while their nanny watches the kids, but they have a trust fund or a high-earning spouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent our 20s in school, with very low-paying jobs, and saved enough to pay for a downpayment on a home when I turned 30.

We lived VERY frugally to achieve this, given our low incomes. We picked up free furniture left in the trashroom by other residents, bought cheap food on sale, cooked from scratch, never ate out or went to the movies or paid for any sort of entertainment, lived in a crappy one-bedroom (with one, then two kids)...

Most people on DCUM can't even imagine living such a frugal life.

And now we're living a middle class life.

But it took 10 years of lean, lean living to get there. And even now, we budget carefully.

I can relate, as I'm an immigrant and frugal living was a normal for me and my family. Thanks to an extremely frugal mindset and hard work, I own a home that is paid off, worth $1.1 mln; and I'm 45 years old. I don't get all these people, who can't afford a home. Like what the heck were you doing all your life when you're young? You had no savings, no part time jobs? Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for all people with college debt either. You should have gone to community, then transfer to the closest in-state university. That would be much cheaper for you, while you were working of course.

+1. I went to community college and transferred to UVA where my tuition was 11,000 for two years. All in with books snd room and board my student loans were under 40k for a great education. Then I went to work, paid them off, and lived a frugal lifestyle. All my clothes are from the thrift for example, and I drive a ‘97 civic (no it’s not a beater, paint still looks crisp because I garage it). All of my extra money went into rental property. I’m not mega rich, but I own multiple homes.

+2 Or even go to state schools for 4 years. I'm so sick of the snobs on this board who brag about their exclusive schools that are crushing them in debt and never netted them a high-paying job. They made bad financial decisions and now they can't afford to buy a home, because of course any home has to be in the "right" area. I don't feel sorry for them either, and I say this as someone who owned homes in coveted areas plus a beach house. I made choices to get there.

Objectively not true:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Hyattsville/5706-40th-Pl-20781/home/10948896

This is a cute little house in hyattsville for less than 500K

Genuinely confused why you would say this?
It seems like people only want to live in Bethesda and just want to complain about that.




Where do you live? Because here, $800,00 gets you a fixer upper with a squatter. And that’s an hour from the city.

That’s a 45 minute commute with no traffic. And I’m not in my 20s, so I’m not living like that.

Not the pp you're responding to here. You're living outside of your means. I'm amazed at how many people on this board don't understand that they need either a high income or family money to live the way they want. Sure your colleague with the same nonprofit job you have can afford the beautiful home in NWDC/Bethesda/McLean and eating at the hottest restaurants every weekend while their nanny watches the kids, but they have a trust fund or a high-earning spouse.

You couldn’t be more wrong about every assumption you’ve made. But congratulations for being so perfect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent our 20s in school, with very low-paying jobs, and saved enough to pay for a downpayment on a home when I turned 30.

We lived VERY frugally to achieve this, given our low incomes. We picked up free furniture left in the trashroom by other residents, bought cheap food on sale, cooked from scratch, never ate out or went to the movies or paid for any sort of entertainment, lived in a crappy one-bedroom (with one, then two kids)...

Most people on DCUM can't even imagine living such a frugal life.

And now we're living a middle class life.

But it took 10 years of lean, lean living to get there. And even now, we budget carefully.

I can relate, as I'm an immigrant and frugal living was a normal for me and my family. Thanks to an extremely frugal mindset and hard work, I own a home that is paid off, worth $1.1 mln; and I'm 45 years old. I don't get all these people, who can't afford a home. Like what the heck were you doing all your life when you're young? You had no savings, no part time jobs? Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for all people with college debt either. You should have gone to community, then transfer to the closest in-state university. That would be much cheaper for you, while you were working of course.

+1. I went to community college and transferred to UVA where my tuition was 11,000 for two years. All in with books snd room and board my student loans were under 40k for a great education. Then I went to work, paid them off, and lived a frugal lifestyle. All my clothes are from the thrift for example, and I drive a ‘97 civic (no it’s not a beater, paint still looks crisp because I garage it). All of my extra money went into rental property. I’m not mega rich, but I own multiple homes.

+2 Or even go to state schools for 4 years. I'm so sick of the snobs on this board who brag about their exclusive schools that are crushing them in debt and never netted them a high-paying job. They made bad financial decisions and now they can't afford to buy a home, because of course any home has to be in the "right" area. I don't feel sorry for them either, and I say this as someone who owned homes in coveted areas plus a beach house. I made choices to get there.

Objectively not true:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Hyattsville/5706-40th-Pl-20781/home/10948896

This is a cute little house in hyattsville for less than 500K

Genuinely confused why you would say this?
It seems like people only want to live in Bethesda and just want to complain about that.




Where do you live? Because here, $800,00 gets you a fixer upper with a squatter. And that’s an hour from the city.

That’s a 45 minute commute with no traffic. And I’m not in my 20s, so I’m not living like that.

Not the pp you're responding to here. You're living outside of your means. I'm amazed at how many people on this board don't understand that they need either a high income or family money to live the way they want. Sure your colleague with the same nonprofit job you have can afford the beautiful home in NWDC/Bethesda/McLean and eating at the hottest restaurants every weekend while their nanny watches the kids, but they have a trust fund or a high-earning spouse.

You couldn’t be more wrong about every assumption you’ve made. But congratulations for being so perfect.

It was an example. The point that you're living above your means still stands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent our 20s in school, with very low-paying jobs, and saved enough to pay for a downpayment on a home when I turned 30.

We lived VERY frugally to achieve this, given our low incomes. We picked up free furniture left in the trashroom by other residents, bought cheap food on sale, cooked from scratch, never ate out or went to the movies or paid for any sort of entertainment, lived in a crappy one-bedroom (with one, then two kids)...

Most people on DCUM can't even imagine living such a frugal life.

And now we're living a middle class life.

But it took 10 years of lean, lean living to get there. And even now, we budget carefully.

I can relate, as I'm an immigrant and frugal living was a normal for me and my family. Thanks to an extremely frugal mindset and hard work, I own a home that is paid off, worth $1.1 mln; and I'm 45 years old. I don't get all these people, who can't afford a home. Like what the heck were you doing all your life when you're young? You had no savings, no part time jobs? Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for all people with college debt either. You should have gone to community, then transfer to the closest in-state university. That would be much cheaper for you, while you were working of course.

+1. I went to community college and transferred to UVA where my tuition was 11,000 for two years. All in with books snd room and board my student loans were under 40k for a great education. Then I went to work, paid them off, and lived a frugal lifestyle. All my clothes are from the thrift for example, and I drive a ‘97 civic (no it’s not a beater, paint still looks crisp because I garage it). All of my extra money went into rental property. I’m not mega rich, but I own multiple homes.

+2 Or even go to state schools for 4 years. I'm so sick of the snobs on this board who brag about their exclusive schools that are crushing them in debt and never netted them a high-paying job. They made bad financial decisions and now they can't afford to buy a home, because of course any home has to be in the "right" area. I don't feel sorry for them either, and I say this as someone who owned homes in coveted areas plus a beach house. I made choices to get there.

Objectively not true:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Hyattsville/5706-40th-Pl-20781/home/10948896

This is a cute little house in hyattsville for less than 500K

Genuinely confused why you would say this?
It seems like people only want to live in Bethesda and just want to complain about that.




Where do you live? Because here, $800,00 gets you a fixer upper with a squatter. And that’s an hour from the city.

That’s a 45 minute commute with no traffic. And I’m not in my 20s, so I’m not living like that.

So you’re upset you can’t afford to live in DuPont circle?? That’s ridiculous. You can walk to pg plaza from that house it’s 20 min and be downtown in another 15 min train ride. Sfh with a yard. Walking lifestyle. You could sell your car. There are so few cities that offer that. Immigrants who come here can’t believe how easy it is to get property. You guys are just being foolish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent our 20s in school, with very low-paying jobs, and saved enough to pay for a downpayment on a home when I turned 30.

We lived VERY frugally to achieve this, given our low incomes. We picked up free furniture left in the trashroom by other residents, bought cheap food on sale, cooked from scratch, never ate out or went to the movies or paid for any sort of entertainment, lived in a crappy one-bedroom (with one, then two kids)...

Most people on DCUM can't even imagine living such a frugal life.

And now we're living a middle class life.

But it took 10 years of lean, lean living to get there. And even now, we budget carefully.

I can relate, as I'm an immigrant and frugal living was a normal for me and my family. Thanks to an extremely frugal mindset and hard work, I own a home that is paid off, worth $1.1 mln; and I'm 45 years old. I don't get all these people, who can't afford a home. Like what the heck were you doing all your life when you're young? You had no savings, no part time jobs? Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for all people with college debt either. You should have gone to community, then transfer to the closest in-state university. That would be much cheaper for you, while you were working of course.

+1. I went to community college and transferred to UVA where my tuition was 11,000 for two years. All in with books snd room and board my student loans were under 40k for a great education. Then I went to work, paid them off, and lived a frugal lifestyle. All my clothes are from the thrift for example, and I drive a ‘97 civic (no it’s not a beater, paint still looks crisp because I garage it). All of my extra money went into rental property. I’m not mega rich, but I own multiple homes.

+2 Or even go to state schools for 4 years. I'm so sick of the snobs on this board who brag about their exclusive schools that are crushing them in debt and never netted them a high-paying job. They made bad financial decisions and now they can't afford to buy a home, because of course any home has to be in the "right" area. I don't feel sorry for them either, and I say this as someone who owned homes in coveted areas plus a beach house. I made choices to get there.

Where do you live? Because here, $800,00 gets you a fixer upper with a squatter. And that’s an hour from the city.

Uhhhh lol no. You must be thinking that bethesda or Arlington are an hour from DC. Which explains those prices with such dismal conditions.

800k can buy you a nice house within an hour from the city. I can tell you live in Dc and don’t know the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent our 20s in school, with very low-paying jobs, and saved enough to pay for a downpayment on a home when I turned 30.

We lived VERY frugally to achieve this, given our low incomes. We picked up free furniture left in the trashroom by other residents, bought cheap food on sale, cooked from scratch, never ate out or went to the movies or paid for any sort of entertainment, lived in a crappy one-bedroom (with one, then two kids)...

Most people on DCUM can't even imagine living such a frugal life.

And now we're living a middle class life.

But it took 10 years of lean, lean living to get there. And even now, we budget carefully.

I can relate, as I'm an immigrant and frugal living was a normal for me and my family. Thanks to an extremely frugal mindset and hard work, I own a home that is paid off, worth $1.1 mln; and I'm 45 years old. I don't get all these people, who can't afford a home. Like what the heck were you doing all your life when you're young? You had no savings, no part time jobs? Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for all people with college debt either. You should have gone to community, then transfer to the closest in-state university. That would be much cheaper for you, while you were working of course.

+1. I went to community college and transferred to UVA where my tuition was 11,000 for two years. All in with books snd room and board my student loans were under 40k for a great education. Then I went to work, paid them off, and lived a frugal lifestyle. All my clothes are from the thrift for example, and I drive a ‘97 civic (no it’s not a beater, paint still looks crisp because I garage it). All of my extra money went into rental property. I’m not mega rich, but I own multiple homes.

+2 Or even go to state schools for 4 years. I'm so sick of the snobs on this board who brag about their exclusive schools that are crushing them in debt and never netted them a high-paying job. They made bad financial decisions and now they can't afford to buy a home, because of course any home has to be in the "right" area. I don't feel sorry for them either, and I say this as someone who owned homes in coveted areas plus a beach house. I made choices to get there.

DP. Speaking from personal experience if you are truly from a lower middle class and below family it is almost universally cheaper to go to an elite school with need based aid than a state school. I went to an Ivy and graduated with zero debt but likely would have had some (albeit small amount) of debt had I gone to a state school. No need to make assumptions about people who went to exclusive schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent our 20s in school, with very low-paying jobs, and saved enough to pay for a downpayment on a home when I turned 30.

We lived VERY frugally to achieve this, given our low incomes. We picked up free furniture left in the trashroom by other residents, bought cheap food on sale, cooked from scratch, never ate out or went to the movies or paid for any sort of entertainment, lived in a crappy one-bedroom (with one, then two kids)...

Most people on DCUM can't even imagine living such a frugal life.

And now we're living a middle class life.

But it took 10 years of lean, lean living to get there. And even now, we budget carefully.

I can relate, as I'm an immigrant and frugal living was a normal for me and my family. Thanks to an extremely frugal mindset and hard work, I own a home that is paid off, worth $1.1 mln; and I'm 45 years old. I don't get all these people, who can't afford a home. Like what the heck were you doing all your life when you're young? You had no savings, no part time jobs? Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for all people with college debt either. You should have gone to community, then transfer to the closest in-state university. That would be much cheaper for you, while you were working of course.

+1. I went to community college and transferred to UVA where my tuition was 11,000 for two years. All in with books snd room and board my student loans were under 40k for a great education. Then I went to work, paid them off, and lived a frugal lifestyle. All my clothes are from the thrift for example, and I drive a ‘97 civic (no it’s not a beater, paint still looks crisp because I garage it). All of my extra money went into rental property. I’m not mega rich, but I own multiple homes.

+2 Or even go to state schools for 4 years. I'm so sick of the snobs on this board who brag about their exclusive schools that are crushing them in debt and never netted them a high-paying job. They made bad financial decisions and now they can't afford to buy a home, because of course any home has to be in the "right" area. I don't feel sorry for them either, and I say this as someone who owned homes in coveted areas plus a beach house. I made choices to get there.

DP. Speaking from personal experience if you are truly from a lower middle class and below family it is almost universally cheaper to go to an elite school with need based aid than a state school. I went to an Ivy and graduated with zero debt but likely would have had some (albeit small amount) of debt had I gone to a state school. No need to make assumptions about people who went to exclusive schools.

Try reading: *that are crushing them in debt*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent our 20s in school, with very low-paying jobs, and saved enough to pay for a downpayment on a home when I turned 30.

We lived VERY frugally to achieve this, given our low incomes. We picked up free furniture left in the trashroom by other residents, bought cheap food on sale, cooked from scratch, never ate out or went to the movies or paid for any sort of entertainment, lived in a crappy one-bedroom (with one, then two kids)...

Most people on DCUM can't even imagine living such a frugal life.

And now we're living a middle class life.

But it took 10 years of lean, lean living to get there. And even now, we budget carefully.

I can relate, as I'm an immigrant and frugal living was a normal for me and my family. Thanks to an extremely frugal mindset and hard work, I own a home that is paid off, worth $1.1 mln; and I'm 45 years old. I don't get all these people, who can't afford a home. Like what the heck were you doing all your life when you're young? You had no savings, no part time jobs? Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for all people with college debt either. You should have gone to community, then transfer to the closest in-state university. That would be much cheaper for you, while you were working of course.

+1. I went to community college and transferred to UVA where my tuition was 11,000 for two years. All in with books snd room and board my student loans were under 40k for a great education. Then I went to work, paid them off, and lived a frugal lifestyle. All my clothes are from the thrift for example, and I drive a ‘97 civic (no it’s not a beater, paint still looks crisp because I garage it). All of my extra money went into rental property. I’m not mega rich, but I own multiple homes.

+2 Or even go to state schools for 4 years. I'm so sick of the snobs on this board who brag about their exclusive schools that are crushing them in debt and never netted them a high-paying job. They made bad financial decisions and now they can't afford to buy a home, because of course any home has to be in the "right" area. I don't feel sorry for them either, and I say this as someone who owned homes in coveted areas plus a beach house. I made choices to get there.

Where do you live? Because here, $800,00 gets you a fixer upper with a squatter. And that’s an hour from the city.

Uhhhh lol no. You must be thinking that bethesda or Arlington are an hour from DC. Which explains those prices with such dismal conditions.

800k can buy you a nice house within an hour from the city. I can tell you live in Dc and don’t know the area.

Meanwhile…people in the “Fairfax for $600,000” thread laughing at the OP for being stuck in 1990. Where are YOU from?

[Anonymous]

.
DP. Speaking from personal experience if you are truly from a lower middle class and below family it is almost universally cheaper to go to an elite school with need based aid than a state school. I went to an Ivy and graduated with zero debt but likely would have had some (albeit small amount) of debt had I gone to a state school. No need to make assumptions about people who went to exclusive schools.

Graduating without debt from an Ivy invariably means minority scholarship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent our 20s in school, with very low-paying jobs, and saved enough to pay for a downpayment on a home when I turned 30.

We lived VERY frugally to achieve this, given our low incomes. We picked up free furniture left in the trashroom by other residents, bought cheap food on sale, cooked from scratch, never ate out or went to the movies or paid for any sort of entertainment, lived in a crappy one-bedroom (with one, then two kids)...

Most people on DCUM can't even imagine living such a frugal life.

And now we're living a middle class life.

But it took 10 years of lean, lean living to get there. And even now, we budget carefully.

I can relate, as I'm an immigrant and frugal living was a normal for me and my family. Thanks to an extremely frugal mindset and hard work, I own a home that is paid off, worth $1.1 mln; and I'm 45 years old. I don't get all these people, who can't afford a home. Like what the heck were you doing all your life when you're young? You had no savings, no part time jobs? Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for all people with college debt either. You should have gone to community, then transfer to the closest in-state university. That would be much cheaper for you, while you were working of course.

+1. I went to community college and transferred to UVA where my tuition was 11,000 for two years. All in with books snd room and board my student loans were under 40k for a great education. Then I went to work, paid them off, and lived a frugal lifestyle. All my clothes are from the thrift for example, and I drive a ‘97 civic (no it’s not a beater, paint still looks crisp because I garage it). All of my extra money went into rental property. I’m not mega rich, but I own multiple homes.

+2 Or even go to state schools for 4 years. I'm so sick of the snobs on this board who brag about their exclusive schools that are crushing them in debt and never netted them a high-paying job. They made bad financial decisions and now they can't afford to buy a home, because of course any home has to be in the "right" area. I don't feel sorry for them either, and I say this as someone who owned homes in coveted areas plus a beach house. I made choices to get there.

Objectively not true:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Hyattsville/5706-40th-Pl-20781/home/10948896

This is a cute little house in hyattsville for less than 500K

Genuinely confused why you would say this?
It seems like people only want to live in Bethesda and just want to complain about that.




Where do you live? Because here, $800,00 gets you a fixer upper with a squatter. And that’s an hour from the city.

That’s a 45 minute commute with no traffic. And I’m not in my 20s, so I’m not living like that.

I have an hour (sometimes hour plus) commute, am a mom of two young kids, and am happy to do it. Our incomes could have gotten us closer to the city but—particularly with the price of child care and our student loans, along with some silly money decisions when we were younger and kiddo free—would have meant we needed to keep renting to save up for a solid down payment longer than we wanted to. Have a home we love, manageable monthly payment, and money to spare. I grew up in the DMV; this type of commute is not out of the ordinary despite what folks on this board seem to think. That said, it has become a lot less of a drag with the WFH/flex scheduling benefits that many, if not most, industries outside of the service, etc. offer.

I pick up the kids 3x a week, husband does 2x. There may be some late nights here and there but we almost always eat together as a family and my husband and I have time to relax together before bed.

If you want a house but can’t afford upper NW or Arlington or what have you, move further out. If you don’t want to do that, then be content with your decision to rent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is just the latest item on a long list of why I sincerely think that the posters of this website are some of the least happy people you can find. Not just the people lamenting about not owning a physical asset because they view it as a status or identity item, but also some of the nasty responses.

You have to remember that most of the posters here are in a rat race they can't escape. They believe they have to follow a script for life -- get the right education, get a high-paying job, get married, have kids, buy a house in the suburbs. They do that and realize they are miserable. Instead of taking a hard look at themselves and what they truly want out of life, they double down on making sure everyone else follows the same script. Misery loves company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Single parent who will never own a home either. It is what it is. I try to remind my non-handy self that home ownership comes with its expectations of fixing stuff yourself. No thanks.

Most homes are money pits anyway and being house-poor is a sad way to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mid thirties couple here with no way forward regarding buying a home. I feel sad knowing I won’t be able to have a home to call my own and decorate and build a family in.

Anyone else in this boat?

No. You two had at minimum 10 years to live in a condo/townhouse (possible with roommates) and pay down the mortgage. Then take out the equity and buy something bigger. Since you don't seem to have done that, take the money you invested while renting all those years (Usually renting is cheaper than owning, so the difference you invested). You did that, right? If you live in DMV you have known for a long time that it is expensive to live here.
If no,t you two need to move into a studio and both work 1.5 jobs to save up for a townhouse somewhere outside of the city. Within a few years when the interest rates go down again, you should be ready to buy. Get a roommate if you do buy a townhouse or a house.

This. The pp had years to live frugally and save for home ownership. If you suddenly look up at age 33 and wonder why you don't own a home, then that's on you.

So hard to imagine that many people in an area known for highky edicared transplants didn't grow up here, didn't live with mom and dad, or spent their savings or had low incomes in their 20s due to higher education. I know TONS of people who weren't able to save for a down payment at the rate prices were increasing in their 20s.

Lots of us did it without family to live with or to give us money. We lived with roommates in crappy rentals and saved money to buy a dated home in a tier 2 or 3 area. You also need to be careful taking on student loans. If that exclusive school is going to saddle you with debt but not a high salary, then you can't afford it. You also can't afford the prestigious but low-paying career. I have no sympathy for people who indulged their egos instead of being financially responsible.

Don't try to live the trust fund lifestyle without a trust fund then come complaining.

+10000. We are relatively high earners and had to make sacrifices for that first down payment. We spent a year or so not going on any vacations, we skipped out on some weddings, didn’t even have iPhones and got by with one older car. The friends we have who have not yet bought a house are all unable to make these kind of sacrifices. Now they are in their 30s and it will be more obvious that they missed the boat.

Wow, you spent a whole year without going on vacations? You didn't even have iPhones?? I'm impressed you were able to make those kinds of sacrifices.

Yeah. We can’t afford vacations either and I drive a basic car. We make mid six figures but no inheritance so only fixer upper townhomes are in our price range.

You make mid 6 figures and can’t afford vacations?

6 figures can be $100,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mid thirties couple here with no way forward regarding buying a home. I feel sad knowing I won’t be able to have a home to call my own and decorate and build a family in.

Anyone else in this boat?

No. You two had at minimum 10 years to live in a condo/townhouse (possible with roommates) and pay down the mortgage. Then take out the equity and buy something bigger. Since you don't seem to have done that, take the money you invested while renting all those years (Usually renting is cheaper than owning, so the difference you invested). You did that, right? If you live in DMV you have known for a long time that it is expensive to live here.
If no,t you two need to move into a studio and both work 1.5 jobs to save up for a townhouse somewhere outside of the city. Within a few years when the interest rates go down again, you should be ready to buy. Get a roommate if you do buy a townhouse or a house.

This. The pp had years to live frugally and save for home ownership. If you suddenly look up at age 33 and wonder why you don't own a home, then that's on you.

So hard to imagine that many people in an area known for highky edicared transplants didn't grow up here, didn't live with mom and dad, or spent their savings or had low incomes in their 20s due to higher education. I know TONS of people who weren't able to save for a down payment at the rate prices were increasing in their 20s.

Lots of us did it without family to live with or to give us money. We lived with roommates in crappy rentals and saved money to buy a dated home in a tier 2 or 3 area. You also need to be careful taking on student loans. If that exclusive school is going to saddle you with debt but not a high salary, then you can't afford it. You also can't afford the prestigious but low-paying career. I have no sympathy for people who indulged their egos instead of being financially responsible.

Don't try to live the trust fund lifestyle without a trust fund then come complaining.

+10000. We are relatively high earners and had to make sacrifices for that first down payment. We spent a year or so not going on any vacations, we skipped out on some weddings, didn’t even have iPhones and got by with one older car. The friends we have who have not yet bought a house are all unable to make these kind of sacrifices. Now they are in their 30s and it will be more obvious that they missed the boat.

Wow, you spent a whole year without going on vacations? You didn't even have iPhones?? I'm impressed you were able to make those kinds of sacrifices.

Sacrifices? Right, this is DCUM. Sacrifices are when you live in a one bedroom apartment with two kids so that you can send a large part of your money to your home country to support poverty stricken relatives. Perspective, please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent our 20s in school, with very low-paying jobs, and saved enough to pay for a downpayment on a home when I turned 30.

We lived VERY frugally to achieve this, given our low incomes. We picked up free furniture left in the trashroom by other residents, bought cheap food on sale, cooked from scratch, never ate out or went to the movies or paid for any sort of entertainment, lived in a crappy one-bedroom (with one, then two kids)...

Most people on DCUM can't even imagine living such a frugal life.

And now we're living a middle class life.

But it took 10 years of lean, lean living to get there. And even now, we budget carefully.

I can relate, as I'm an immigrant and frugal living was a normal for me and my family. Thanks to an extremely frugal mindset and hard work, I own a home that is paid off, worth $1.1 mln; and I'm 45 years old. I don't get all these people, who can't afford a home. Like what the heck were you doing all your life when you're young? You had no savings, no part time jobs? Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for all people with college debt either. You should have gone to community, then transfer to the closest in-state university. That would be much cheaper for you, while you were working of course.

+1. I went to community college and transferred to UVA where my tuition was 11,000 for two years. All in with books snd room and board my student loans were under 40k for a great education. Then I went to work, paid them off, and lived a frugal lifestyle. All my clothes are from the thrift for example, and I drive a ‘97 civic (no it’s not a beater, paint still looks crisp because I garage it). All of my extra money went into rental property. I’m not mega rich, but I own multiple homes.

+2 Or even go to state schools for 4 years. I'm so sick of the snobs on this board who brag about their exclusive schools that are crushing them in debt and never netted them a high-paying job. They made bad financial decisions and now they can't afford to buy a home, because of course any home has to be in the "right" area. I don't feel sorry for them either, and I say this as someone who owned homes in coveted areas plus a beach house. I made choices to get there.

+3 Arlington's Missing Middle Housing is designed for these people. The ringleader got a PhD in history and works for a non-profit and whines that she can only afford to buy a house in Arlington is someone builds a triplex for her on an expensive piece of land in North Arlington. I am a Gen Xer and bought my first condo at 23 with an FHA loan and $5,000 I saved after paying off $35,000 in student loans -- the rest of my engineering school education was paid through work study and scholarships. I moved up the ladder and we have a very nice home in Arlington. I resent the heck out of the people who tell me that I a a racist, privileged white person (when they are also white and more privileged than I am) who is not entitled to have a 1940s colonial in North Arlington because I got a degree in something that would allow me to live in Arlington, send my kids to decent schools, and have my DH do all the work to our home.

Too bad that you thought your youth was for living la dolce via rather than preparing yourself for the responsibilities of adulthood.