[dev_jim]

I guess I don't see why options 2 or 3 are that bad, but either way, there isn't going to be a brain drain as long as the job market is good. New York, even at twice the expense (600k 1-BRs, sign me up!) doesn't have a problem with brain drain. Sure people leave every year, but more move in, as the quality of life in the city cannot be matched anywhere else.

[jpatokal]

The problem with #2 is that a depressively expensive 1BR condo ceases to be a practical option once you have children.

[dev_jim]

When you are ready to have kids then either your finances have probably improved and you can afford that 2BR or you move farther out to cheaper areas of the city / suburbs.

Or be happy with a life without children as a lot of us are.

[lolwutf]

Well, according to this link, the average 2BR condo costs ~$900k. To put it bluntly, aint no way I'm gonna spend close to a million for a 2BR condo! That's even more depressing!

So, this brings me back to the original predicament: when you get to nesting age (which normally runs concurrent, or closely precedes Having Kids Time), you're gonna start looking at your finances and looking at the local real estate market and many will need to make some very tough decisions - decisions that I, personally, don't see including San Francisco.

[dev_jim]

A $900k home is ~$3,600/month P+I after 20% down. Considering that principal is actually savings and you can deduct X% of the interest, you are looking at a true effective cost at under $2k + real estate taxes and maintenance. The carrying costs are easily doable by a couple in the tech industry, let alone the actual effective monthly costs. What's depressing about that?

It sounds like you're brought up with a more traditional expectation of constitutes a house - 2.3 kids, picket fence, et. all. That's depressing.

[lolwutf]

/me wonders how old you are.