Took a new job in a “very low cost of living” city about 2 years ago with a decent starting salary of ~$100k. This city typically shows up in the top 5 cheapest places to live in the US so I was hoping to finally buy a house. Fast forward to today and my pay has barely increased but everything else has skyrocketed. Seems that a lot of people are moving to the city seeking a more affordable lifestyle.
I've been saving for a down payment but housing prices are increasing faster than I can save. More than doubled since 2021. I keep lowering my standards but the homes in my price range truly horrific. Mold everywhere, missing walls, major water damage…
I felt like I finally MADE IT with my six figure salary but the American Dream seems less obtainable than ever.
At this point I'm just hoping for an inheritance.