All very true! My former downstairs neighbors have 3 kids under 5, in a one-bedroom apartment. They are dying to buy a house, but she doesn’t work and he rents out apartments as a realtor. My instinct tells me it ain’t happenin’ for them any time soon. One bedroom apartments are selling for $250K and up around there.
I live in western Missouri. At $250,000 you can buy a 3 bedroom 2 full bath ranch. That is with an unfinished full basement and large attached 2 car garage. I bet my taxes are much lower than what that couple would have to pay. Living in these high tax states is unfair and the taxes criminal. But you get the government that you vote for.