SFR=Single Family Residence, no? We are renting for $1,200, but could certainly afford more if we were going to buy. I'm confident that we could get approved for somewhere in the range of $500k. I'm not willing to take out that much of a loan though, especially not to live in the shit holes you can buy in most neighborhoods of Boulder for that price. I'm not buying a 1100 sq foot 1960s Ranch in Martin Acres for $500k. No thanks.
Louisville is equally, if not more insane than Boulder.
Look at this place-
http://www.trulia.com/property/31327...-80027#photo-6
And this place-
http://www.trulia.com/property/10313...-80027#photo-1
And this place-
http://www.trulia.com/property/10727...-80027#photo-1
Who is buying these places and paying that much money? $480+/sq foot, to live in Louisville...
In the back of my mind, I think that there is a somewhat decent chance that I might have to move to SF or Seattle for my career in the next 4-5 years. I don't want to be underwater.
We have friends that make probably 2x or 3x what we do and live in a $300k house in Longmont. That seems like a pretty good setup. I'd love to have a house we could realistically pay off. I witnessed my parents buy way too much house that they are now underwater on. I'd like to learn from their mistake.