re: In the market for a house...

My wife and I have been waiting for quite a while to build a home which is right in the neighborhood of $450K in south Louisiana. Our combined income is roughly $190K and we have talked about pulling the trigger multiple times over the last year or so. Looking back, we probably should have just pulled the trigger in 2022. Waiting for rates to go down might have you waiting your whole life. I would just find the most house you can comfortably afford, probably in the $400K range and buy it. As long as you have a job that is rock solid and typically gives cost of living raises at a minimum, in 5 years, you'll be doing alright. Plus being young, as long as you don't suck at your job, there should be some years with significant bumps in salary for you and your wife.