<prompt> Human: 24 year old here looking to purchase a house in the next 2-3 years. With the outrageously steep prices here in So Cal, I wanted to see if I could get some tips and opinions on how much I should be saving or how much anyone in a similar situation is saving. Heres my current situation:- Living at home, rent free- Zero debt - no loans or payments- Currently making 50kyear pre tax- Have 11k in a RothIRA- Have 50k in stocks- Currently saving 50 of my paycheck, which is distributed amount my Roth IRA, stocks, and savings account. The rest of my paycheck goes to groceries, cell phone bills, going out, etc.Ideally, I would like to purchase a house in the 550-600k range. I know I give myself a very healthy budget for spending money. Am I really hindering myself by doing so?  <response>: Typically you need at least 20 for a downpayment to get a competitive mortgage. Its going to be tough for you to save that much on 50kyear pre-tax, and Id suggest that a 550-600k house is not affordable for you. 