In 2005 I was told by State Farm that my homeowners/windstorm insurance on my 1000 SF home in Fort Lauderdale was going to go up to $8000 a year. It was one of the reasons we relocated to New Mexico.
So we bought a 3,000 SF house in New Mexico. When we met with the insurance agent they told me insurance was $600. Thinking this was the monthly premium, I commented to my wife that at least it was less than the monthly would have been back in Florida.
“Mr. Crusher,” the agent said, “That is your annual premium.”
That reminds me of when I left CA many decades ago. While in CA I couldn’t afford even a horrible house—and finally gave up and moved out of state.
I kept the same salary in the new location.
I walked into the local real estate office and said I had just moved to the area and wanted to buy a home.
The real estate agent asked my salary.
I told him.
He laughed and said—we have over one hundred listings here.
You can afford any of them.
Lol.