Ugh, housing...

[Tink]

Lindsey, the economy is insane in the real estate market.
People are getting in so deep that when the interest rates on those adjustable rate loans goes up they simply can't keep up and they're foreclosed on. A bank will tell you that you can afford 25% of your gross income for mortgage payments, but when you do, the house ends up owning you... it's a sad spot to be in when anything else comes up that you hadn't budgeted for. (And it will!)

I would not even want to buy right now. My first house... a 3 bedroom one bath on a city lot was $11,300. Of course back then we were making a lot less too! Our payment on a 20 yr loan was $103 a month and that was plenty to pay! LOL

Katie and Josh and Joel and Shannon all rent upstairs apartments in our small town and both couples pay $325 a month. That's pretty average for here. It really does vary greatly what part of the country you're located in. Most of the jobs here are in factories and the starting pay is $10- 13. an hr. which is what they all make.