"Free to pay cash for a house."

Hahahahaha.

The median cost for a home in this area is over $600,000.

That includes tiny condos.

If you want a house, cough up a million and then some.

Rent until you can afford it? Your one bedroom will cost you a median of $2,300. This will be a third to half of your income. If you are frugal (no entertainment/travel/eating out/luxuries) you MIGHT save up that million in time to die with it. That's if you don't have kids.

Now, yes, there are places where housing is more affordable.

Boss: No, you can't work from home. You have to come into this office in downtown.

You aren't free to spend money you have no chance of saving.

(Median income: Just under $100,000. If you're earning much less than that you're living in a "home" with bars on the windows and we have people who are working full time and sleeping in their cars).