[dekhn]

This is my conclusion (and the path I've taken - basically max our index and retirement accounts).

I've explained this to people and been told I'm stupid and irrational. Another thing I saw was families moving from the. midwest to the bay area (to work for FAANG) and getting tons of pressure from their back-home families to buy a house, and then spend a miserable decade living in a Sunnyvale housing complex.

Our plan is to wait for kids to leave home, retire somewhat early and buy a modest house in an area with lower costs and a political climate I can tolerate.