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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Does middle class mean that 2 working people who earn as much as a school teacher and police officer, can afford a 3 bedroom home, daycare for 1 child and summer camp for the older kid in school, 2 car payments, no family money and all this in a nice enough low crime area where kids can roam [/quote]

IDK when this definition was realistic, maybe decades ago, before the 80s?  SFHs become less affordable with time because their number can only increase with sprawl (which is already maximized in DMV area).  If population grows and becomes more affluent and prioritizes SFH ownership vs. multifamily/TH, then prices for SFH land in closer commute distances to jobs and amenities become very competitive.

This old definition of middle class where (some say one income) can afford a detached decent home is gone long ago with more competition for limited SFH land.  You could still find it in more remote area, but in dense metro areas with robust job markets you won't find this, which means that the concept of a "starter home" or a middle class/working class home has to be redefined to include multifamily housing.

This was already the case in the 90s in some very HCOL areas like SF and NYC.  Even in DC starter homes were studios/1 bedrooms for single professionals or couples if you wanted to live in a good neighborhood. [/quote]

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