Sounds like your salaries are pretty average. $1400 is a good amt. to pay for a mortgage. Most places if you cannot buy you certainly should be able to rent for that amt. or less. If nurses cannot buy in an area they rent. I live near Palm Springs California. $200,000 will buy a lower end home. Salaries for RN's are about $25 per hour. Think about this most people esp. women dont even make $25 per hour. Many couples I know make minimum wage and $15 per hour. Wonder how they make it as well? Hopefully your home will earn equity and you can take that amount to put towards the purchase of a new home when you decide to move. I was able to offset the high cost of home buying by purchasing homes that went up in value and taking the profit to offset the cost of a more expensive home. Your question is a good one that many nurses wonder about.