Housing costs USA

[Snoods]

Just a general question/chat really. I love watching home improvement shows and watch Property Brothers a lot. Just watching one where the house being sold is almost $800,000. I see a lot like that. This one isn’t particularly big compared to the ones I usually see either. Just wondering how average prices and wages work in th USA and how easy it is to get on the property ladder. I know in the UK location is huge factor: But I watch the show and wonder how people manage to buy such expensive properties as loads seem to be pushing a million

It works the same way there as it does here. People with good jobs, earning well can afford big houses. There can be family wealth/inheritance.

Property prices range widely in the US just like in the UK because location plays a part but usually one needs to live in the expensive location to earn the big salary ... it can be a bit chicken/egg. Most houses do come with a garden and off street parking unless they are in a very urban area.

You can use Zillow to look at US properties. Houses that are huge by UK standards often sell very cheaply b/c they are not in an area with good jobs.

Starting salary for high school teachers in Texas is ca.$33k for 10mos contract, usually divided into 12 payments. So, as ever, the teachers won't be buying the $800k properties.

It surely depends so much on area. A DSis used to live in Cambridge, Mass. (a mile from Harvard Square) where TBH prices weren’t much different at all from our ‘nice’ leafy area of outer SW London.