The New American Dream

Like many others about to have their first child, Sophia and I have been talking about living arrangements in the future. Where and how will we buy our first house? It is after all the American Dream to become a homeowner.

Of course, the fact that we plan to live in either San Francisco or New York only in the next few years complicates things quite a bit. The cost of buying a home that would suit a family just isn’t that attainable despite Sophia and I having good jobs.

It’s something that troubles a lot of people. Housing in San Francisco and California is probably one of the biggest topics everyone loves to debate. For us, I’ve come to terms that the “American Dream” of homeownership is simply just optional in this day and age.

While renting is not ideal, it is a perfectly fine thing to do and we shouldn’t beat ourselves up for it. Furthermore, liquidating your entire investment and savings to buy a house is not a smart financial decision either. The American Dream of our parents is just no longer our American Dream and that is okay.

For myself, my American Dream is working a job that I enjoy and get satisfaction from while also being able to provide for my family and doing the things that make us happy. Maybe it’s a bit cliche, but that’s what will make me happy in the short-term.

Having to budget and sacrifice things that make us happy just to make a mortgage payment doesn’t sound good to me. Of course, I do one day hope to own a home, but that is on pause for now and that’s okay.