"The Midwest offers some of the most affordable housing in the US, with several states clustering in the $230k–$300k range for median/typical existing (used) home prices as of mid-2026. These are significantly below the national median of ~$429k."
230-300 is "some of the most affordable". It should be half that. You have a $3000 house payment? Then the obligatory leased suv...another grand a month with insurance... So you set up a life that goes backward unless you're consistently bringing in like 8 or 9 grand a month and if that stops, you got 90 days before you're living under an overpass ?
How's having all that worth it if you have a bayonet to your back for your entire adult life?