[stevenwoo]

Homeowner seems optimistic - how or when are they saving for the downpayment?

30K per year is about poverty level in most of the United States for a family of four. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-27...

But if both parents work at 15/hour, they could rent, though childcare would take a big bite out of their budget even at 60K per year.

Most places with lower cost of living in the USA have jobs closer to federal minimum wage work rather than 15/hour as well.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/16/how-much-money-a-family-of-4...

[blagie]

> Homeowner seems optimistic - how or when are they saving for the downpayment?

In most cases, the scenario described involves families who have been in the US for several generations, who are poorly-educated, but own homes and land. One parent takes care of kids. One works.

It's not uncommon.

Wealth and income aren't as strongly correlated as people assume. A lot of immigrants are low-wealth, high-income, while a lot of American families have generational wealth, but little income. There are plenty of families with >$1M homes with $30k incomes where I live. And there are plenty of families with >$100k incomes, who can't afford to buy homes here too.