Per the St. Louis Fed [1], the median American home price in 1980 was ~65k. The median American home price in 2019 was ~320k. That's an approximately 4.9x increase. Also from the St. Louis Fed, the 1980 median American family income was ~21k, and the 2019 median American family income was ~86k. That's an approximately 4.1x increase. So it looks like median house price has increased about 20% more than median salary.
65K borrowed in 1980 cost $719/mo. 320K borrowed today costs $1349/mo (both are principal and interest only).
$719 in 1980 is $2258 in 2020.
[0] https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MORTGAGE30US - I picked 13% as an approximate (somewhat low even) average rate for 1980.
Compare what happens when you get a raise or a small windfall and try to pay your mortgage off early.
I'd pick "small amount, high interest" over "massive amount, low rates" if that were an option.
I am planning to refinance again (back to a 30-year mortgage) and won't be in any hurry whatsoever to pay it off early. Borrowing money at 3% nominal with the (hopeful) prospects of economic growth allowing inflation to return means that I expect/hope to be borrowing that money at negative real rates in the back half of that loan.
What was the median price of a home in the US in 1980 vs 2020. Then, what was the median salary in the US in 1980 vs 2020. Thats the real comparison.
No reason to note that houses are still cheap in some far off country, thats not really a convincing argument.