Thinking about buying a house? Zillow says you’ll need a $17K raise just to afford a typical home these days. That’s on top of already having a hefty down payment saved up. In places like San Jose, you’d need a $250K salary bump—yikes! If you’re house hunting, look to the Midwest, where your paycheck stretches further. For now, it’s less about skipping lattes and more about finding a city where your money actually works for you. #RealEstate #HomeBuying #MoneyTalks