It's all about location and you live where you live because that's where you want to live and I respect that but there are places in this country where you can buy a fairly nice house for what you referred to as "down payment"
I am currently looking at a place in Missouri that has five bed rooms, four baths, full finished basement with a kitchen in it, large in ground pool with a pool house, 10 fenced acres and 2 horse barns at $185,000. 5 miles from the nearest store to buy so much as a loaf of bread and about 15 miles from more shopping. The pool is a negative to me because I don't want it. Another negative is a septic system, I know from experience that they are nothing but trouble but you don't get city sewer in the country. I live in Illinois and I want out of this socialist hell hole and Missouri is looking good. The house I now live in is paid for and would more than pay for the one in Missouri.
sounds like a dream. but my job requires me to live in 1 of 12 counties. oh, and those counties are among the highest in housing costs on earth. there is just no way to buy. the good thing is, when i retire in 16 years i’ll have a nice pension, deferred comp, variable supplement and i can leave this damn state, buy a house and enjoy life. need to find a state where they dont tax pensions...
You might find more to your liking there.