If I compared my self to my siblings it isn't good.Both sisters are younger. Youngest sister -- married and in house before me. And her house- worth way more than mine. the middle sister - single and yet has owned a number of homes. Including one she still owns and rents. And she is way better with money. Career wise both sisters are in more prestiges, more lucrative positions.

About two years ago -- all that stuff stopped mattering at all. I recognized that I was responsible for where I was and , well, I like it here. And I've earned everything to get where things make me happy.

So. At least I'm making my student loan payments!

Yes, exactly. If you weren't making those payments, you could be saving for a house with that money.

I just feel like such a loser failure because I keep comparing myself to both of my siblings and I shouldn't. I'm not them, I made my own choices for what career path to take (not a high income one) and what expenses to have (saving for my own place has not been high on my list until recently), so I should stop whining.

you're not, sweetie. Also, think of how much money that you could save if you halved most of your expenses (rent, utilities, etc.) The only thing that costs significantly more when there are two people is food, and even then, it doesn't double.

Kathy, I spend way to much time looking at real estate listings, as well. I think it is some strange form of masochism. Both my siblings are better off financially than me, but I would lay odds that I am happier and they are both jealous of my independence and lack of responsibilities.

I have little to no kid friendly food in my house. Crap.

I go through a real estate period every few months. Eh, I'm sure the realtor's webmasters are glad to see the clicks.

My sister took such a different path than I, that there's no way to compare our lives realistically.

I lived in a one bedroom apartment with one air conditioner, no disposal,no dishwasher, occasional roaches, and crappy water pressure for 6 years.

Which makes me wonder if I gave up too soon.

I mean, people in LA own houses. I've just assumed that I won't be able to, because I live here. Despite having a decent job.

No, it's not giving up too soon. It's setting my bar too high. I can't afford where I want to live. I don't want to live where I can afford. Or could afford, if I got serious about it.

But although I covet ownership I don't think I'm properly focussed.

The other thing to remember is that I was given a great opportunity to buy presale for my place. I never would have been able to afford a place this nice if it weren't for that. Not only did I get a good price, I was able to have a lower down payment.

ita, I've been following CA real estate prices on a housing bubble blog, and from what they're saying there (they're firm bear market types at irvinehousingbubble.com), the prices in southern CA might continue dropping for the next several years, so wait a few years and then start shopping--you might be able to afford something where you want to live by then. (The blog guy doesn't think the market in the Irvine area will bottom out until 2012.)

Yay for donating blood, Jesse!! I tried to give platelets a few Sundays ago, but it didn't work (the needle shifted and everything clogged up--it's a continual problem with my extra-thick platelet-rich blood), so I have to wait until Labor Day weekend to try again. It worked fine in June, so I have hope for the next attempt.

We couldn't own our house if a. it wasn't a Bank-owned foreclosure which no one wanted, and b. my Bro hadn't lent us part of the downpayment. We had money saved, but not nearly enough for an actual house with a yard. I am incredibly lucky to have it work out this way.

I couldn't have afforded any other house in LA but the one I'm in, I'm always flabbergasted at home high a mortgage some folks are willing to take on. And even so I sometimes worry that when I get older I'll regret taking the house instead of the money. I mean right now, our house is our nest egg.