I managed to get a job making $16 an hour here in the States a few months ago, prior to that I was making $9. I have a State-regulated certification in medical-data entry that took several years to earn to make that wage at both of those jobs. Living with my parents over the last 4 years I have been able to save up what is now almost my entire annual wages (after taxes) in order to put towards a mortgage, most of that was while making $9 an hour, and now I have a “good” job to pay it.
I still can't afford a house.
I don't even live anywhere fancy, its an old mining town where the largest attraction is the shopping mall. Decent move-in-ready homes start at minimum of $100,000 or more likely $120,000 and have annual tax of $1,500 – $2,000. Most homes in this range are in bad shape as well and require renovations, so “move in ready” is used loosely here. And putting down 15k would still add up to over a $600 mortgage before paying tens of thousands extra to fix it up. Either that or live in a house with holes in the wall, chipping paint, and cracked kitchen tiles while you either save up to fix it slowly over years or learn complex handyman skills to do it yourself in addition to the difficulties of living life and managing a career and raising a family.
A truly “move-in-ready” home would either be 400 square feet in that price range and have 1 bedroom, or cost excess of $140,000 for 1,400 square feet and three bedrooms. Within a few months I will truly have a years income saved up at $16 an hour and it still won't be enough.
I just don't know what to do anymore. I could move into an apartment, but those are a debt trap and rent for a 1-bedroom in this area usually comes in at $700 a month. I have gone above and beyond what is expected of me and my generation and its not even a fraction of what it needs to be. Its not even close to being close. I would also like to add I pay 25% tax on my income and my tax return this year was $300.