> I am 30 now and I have trouble imagining being in debt for a time equivalent to my entire lifetime so far - just to live in a house. I can empathise. 10 year

> I am 30 now and I have trouble imagining being in debt for a time equivalent to my entire lifetime so far - just to live in a house. I can empathise. 10 years ago, I had friends in their early 20s "buying a house" (signing up to a debt of $1.2m+ dollars over 30-35 years for a $700k house), and could not see the value propositon for the emotional turmoil. Looking back years later, they don't seem so stressed by it, but it's definitely affected their ability to make decisions around their job, relationships, social life, etc. But they've all made pretty strong profits (on paper, assuming they ever sell). I bought a house for cash instead. The trade off of living further away is much better to me than feeling enslaved and not in control for decades. Buy some land if you want - a small package in a small town 30 minutes past all the developments. You'll probably find once you've paid off the mortage in 5-10ish years, the area has built up and you're in a non rural position with a good block.