Callum Jones
A couple in their 30s have divided people after revealing they can't afford to buy a home despite earning upwards of $250,000 a year between them.
The cost of living crisis is real people. Heck, a top economist even made a harrowing prediction that may happen within months.
Everything seem to have gone up, from everyday goods to paying the bills.
But one particular sector that's been hit hard is the housing market, with houses costing astonishing amounts these days.
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We've even heard stories of those earning a good salary struggling to get on the housing ladder.
Laura Graves and her husband Samuel are another example of that, as they raise their two children in a small two-bedroom apartment.
But the couple - who are based in a Portland suburb - say they have no other choice.
The pair, who are both 36, have been looking to purchase a home for the last three years but they've had no luck so far.
Laura and Samuel told Business Insider they want to keep their monthly mortgage payment between $3,000 and $3,500.
This sits at around the 30 percent mark of the couple's monthly take-home income of roughly $11,000.
The couple made a total of $250,000 last year as a result of Laura's work as a financial analyst and Samuel's job as an electrician.
However, Laura told Business Insider most homes they have been interested in require a monthly mortgage payment of at least $5,000.
Instead of splashing out on a house that is beyond their budget, the couple are paying $2,700 a month for a two-bedroom apartment and storage unit.
They hope the market will change in their favor in the coming months and they can finally take the plunge on a house in their budget.
Laura said: "We refuse to become 'house-poor' and, like many others, are choosing to sit it out until the housing market is reasonable again."
She continued: "Our children have begun talking about how they want a house so badly and their own rooms. We'll never get these years back. By the time we buy, we won't even need room for a play set."
The couple's predicament has sparked debate online, with one person penning on Facebook: "My husband and I together make 100k and we can do it just fine. She must be trying to live beyond her means. We bought our home in 2022 and haven’t had any problems paying for our mortgage."
While another added: "I would say this couple is out of touch then because I make way less than that and I am buying my house."