As a programmer, making $70k a year (in Czechia), I couldn’t afford (according to the banks) more than $100k mortgage, so I got $100k from my parents (the house is $200k). And it’s in a small village of 2k residents. You get 4 times less space (and it’s a flat) for the same price in the capital. And it’s on the cheaper side, too.

Or I could’ve gotten a small flat in a shithole that probably has black mold and will crumble to dust in 20 years. It’s bad everywhere.

Similar situation here, except my wife’s grandpa passed away and left her some inheritance. We used most of it for the down payment.