this is true. Being 39 I realized I still can't pay down that down payment because I don't have a vast amount of money I was able to save up, being in a HCOL area, and even if I do get a loan, I won't be able to pay it off before I retire (If I live long enough). And every time I save another chunk, the cost goes up so much more that the chunk I saved may as well have been zero, so I need to use that money to live by this point. Not to mention that mortgage gets more and more unaffordable.
It is a horrible spiral, and I have no idea what I can do about it, other than get richer parents.
The solution I found was to move to a lower cost of living area. I also changed to contracting which paid more. The combination let me buy a very small house. I couldn't afford it now though, I'd have to move even further away...
if i lived alone, sure, but moving away from my family, away from my friends, away from my partner's friends, away from my child's friends, basically starting a completely new life... it isn't something we'd be looking for. All while facing the fact that many parts of the country (USA) isn't very friendly for women, or for non-white people, and having to be in a position where I can still find good work.
"Just move" has been a very challenging outlook for me to combat :(
It is a horrible spiral, and I have no idea what I can do about it, other than get richer parents.