Another reason 2024 sucks....

[BrokenolMarine]

I bought my first house as a young Marine Lance Corporal outside Jacksonville, NC. Two things made this possible. First, I didn't drink or smoke, so I wasn't out the gate every night to the bars and clubs spending my paychecks before the first week ended.

Second, I bought a small three bedroom, one bath home in an older established neighborhood, less popular on the real estate market, with few amenities to attract buyers, so I got a good price.

No central air, cooled with fans in the windows. No wall to wall carpet, bought remnants. No dishwasher, oil heat, old casement weighted Windows, NO landscaping. It was the late 70s, I paid $22,000 for the place. I had used furniture and hand me downs, and drove beater cars. Two years later I got orders to Hawaii, sold the place for $28k. I learned early on to live within a budget. Saw what happened when the "Have it now" bug gets bad.

[Mags]

Our first house was a new built in a small subdivision development in a small rural town. 3 bdrm, 1 bath, narrow 2 car garage, no AC, no landscaping, not fenced. We were involved early enough in the build to be able to pick the carpet color and change the heating system from baseboard to forced air. Paid $17K. A few years later sold it for $49K and moved to the San Diego area. There house pricing was running $425K. We ended up renting while there.

Then a low income family of 4 could afford to go to Disneyland.

[The Happy Kaboomer]

The alternative is you being dead......Then you wouldn't know cost or anything.....Battle your problems and be happy.