You can be great at your job and still struggle to buy a home — or to keep one without feeling stretched thin. The problem isn’t always how hard you work. Sometimes it’s how far your paycheck goes in the place your job keeps you.
1. You’re stuck in a high-cost-of-living area
If your job ties you to an expensive city, rent, groceries, and gas can eat up most of your paycheck before you have a chance to save. Even a “good” salary can disappear fast when everything costs more where you live.
- In San Francisco, the median home price is $1.3M (Zillow, 2025). On the city’s median household income of ~$136K, a mortgage would eat well over 50% of take-home pay.
- Compare that with Cleveland, where homes average ~$180K and median income is ~$60K. The ratio flips — housing takes under 25% of income.
2. Your pay hasn’t kept up with inflation
If you haven’t had a significant raise in years, you’ve effectively taken a pay cut. Lenders qualify you based on what you make today — not on what you hope to make — which can shrink your buying power.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics reports wages rose ~20% since 2015, but inflation rose ~30%. That gap means your paycheck buys less, even if the dollar figure looks the same.
3. You can’t move somewhere more affordable
Remote work can open the door to buying in lower-cost markets. But if your job keeps you tied to an office, you may be forced to compete in the most expensive neighborhoods nearby.
4. Your commute costs are killing your savings
Gas, tolls, parking, and wear and tear on your car all add up.
- According to AAA, the average cost of car ownership is $12,182/year in 2024. A long commute can easily eat hundreds a month — money that could go toward a mortgage or home repairs.
5. Work-related expenses eat into your housing budget
A professional wardrobe, lunches out, business travel, or even paying for childcare because of your schedule can quietly drain the cash you need for housing costs.
Bottom line: The paycheck alone doesn’t tell the whole story. Where and how you work can be the difference between comfortably affording a home and feeling like you’re always one expense away from falling behind. If buying is your goal, it might be time to weigh not just what you earn — but where that job is keeping you.
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