> and had no other sources of income or money That is part of the issue though. It wasn't that long ago that that was true of most people (90s is pushing it a

> and had no other sources of income or money That is part of the issue though. It wasn't that long ago that that was true of most people (90s is pushing it a bit, but before?). These days a lot of people are DINK, and you're competing with those. So not only you have to index the salary for inflation, you have to consider that you're competing with people who don't have a bunch of kids, and whom's spouse also brings in a salary. So (not a real calculation, but just to make a point) assume the spouse would make the same amount of money and the kids are taking half of it, the DINK equivalent of income available for housing is now inflation + 4x that. If the norm back then was: 1 income, multiple kids. Now you have - 1 income, 1 or more kids (essentially screwed) - 1 income, no kids - 2 incomes, 1 or more kids - 2 income, no kids (so far beyond the first case that the former can't come close to competing). Its also why if you are in the later camp and something happens (you lose your job or get sick and get a divorce), you're completely fucked.