Kinda depends don't it? Owner of Victoria secret, express, bath and body etc etc is a second down the road and 12th richest person in the US. I'm not paying for his 20,000sqft house on 100 acres.

I got offer a job in Ohio two years ago, when I went to interview they were basically showing me where I can go live. I was surprised on how cheap renting and/or buying houses are over there. I ended up not accepting it since it was too disperse from what I'm used to. But lets just say that by where I live unless you have roommates you will be renting an apartment for at least 1400-1600 bucks (that's the cheapest you will find), mortgage is much more than that.

$1 a sqft rent here in cbus (most in ohio). $1200=1200sqft was our last place. Now we bought 1440sqft for $116,000. All in we're under $1100 so I'm happy. Mini mansions here are easy at $300-$400k. Cali people are insane!