Those extra down payments are worthless now..
I do think the down payment is more difficult for many people today. The solution to this was to allow less than 20% down. But then the borrower has to pay PMI until they have 20% equity. There are tax rebates for first time buyers too.
People need more discipline in saving and investing and looking for smaller places in areas with less demand. Get into the market and build equity and scale up over time.
I think the main issue with housing prices is some people can’t afford to live where they want to live. And there’s some legitimacy there as people don’t want a long commute for various good reasons. But it boils down to people not being able to finance the lifestyle they want. Hence gentrification where those with limited means move into areas currently populated by people with even less means. And of course that has its own opponents who also generally oppose new development oddly enough.
Maybe remote work will loosen the demand to live in a handful of expensive cities?
That 30k is around 85k today. Interest rates then vs today would make for the same monthly payment in actual dollars of around $500/month. $500/month in 1981 is like $1400 today. This would mean the house should be worth around $300k today at today’s interest rates.
Of course the location may be more or less in demand which greatly influences price.
Where I grew up the houses are more expensive than in the 80’s but the location isn’t in demand so the inflation and interest adjusted cost is well below the cost back then.