re: Baffled as to how single people afford houses currently

Well it's a two fold problem. If only interest rates were high and a 150k home wasn't priced at 300k, then I'd buy at a higher rate and refi later. However, getting a mortgage on an inflated home means no one would refi later once the value drops without me covering the difference.

So it makes you wonder how many will default when the housing market inevitably corrects. Which is why I'll pay my low rent until the housing values correct.