These days, when I meet up with friends, the topic that always comes up is housing.

Where to live, how much money do we need... it seems to come up even more often than discussions about marriage, haha.

Since last year, while working in LA, I've seriously started thinking, "Should I consider moving a bit further out?"

So naturally, I started looking at Thousand Oaks.

The median home price in Thousand Oaks is currently around $1.1 million.

At first, I asked, "Isn't that the price of a condo?" but they told me it's the median price for single-family homes.

Of course, compared to Malibu, Santa Monica, or Beverly Hills, it's much more reasonable.

Those places are like... a different world. The kind of neighborhoods you only see on Instagram.

However, compared to the national median price, Thousand Oaks is also not an easy place to afford.

If we break down the price range a bit more,

condos or townhomes are somewhat more accessible, with listings in the $600,000 to $800,000 range.

So for people in their early 30s like me, who are looking to buy their first home, this is usually where we start.

Honestly, a single-family home with a large yard is a bit much for a first home.

One of my friends bought a townhome in Thousand Oaks last year, and while the HOA fees are a bit of a burden, they said it's a decent starting point.

Three-bedroom single-family homes are almost always over $1 million.

Especially in good school districts like Lang Ranch or Newbury Park, prices can easily reach $1.3 million or $1.5 million.

Homes with good views... where you can see the mountains and beautiful sunsets, are priced at a premium.

On the other hand, homes that are a bit further from the main roads or older homes built in the 70s and 80s can be relatively cheaper.

But these homes usually require additional renovation costs, so it's not as simple as just saying they're "cheap."

Here's the real kicker. Let's say you buy a $1.1 million home with a 20% down payment ($220,000... yes, that's not just the price of a car, it's a life investment) and get a 30-year fixed mortgage.

Depending on the interest rate, the monthly principal and interest alone can be around $5,000 to $6,000.

But that's not all.

Thanks to Proposition 13 in California, property tax is typically 1% of the purchase price.

For a $1.1 million home, that's about $11,000 a year, or roughly $920 a month. And with local assessments, it can go even higher.

Then there's homeowners insurance, HOA (if applicable), utilities... all combined, it easily adds up to $7,000 to $8,000 a month.

When I first saw these numbers, I honestly closed my laptop and stared at the ceiling for a while. I thought, "Can I really afford this for the rest of my life?"

But then I see people around me managing to live somehow.

In the end, it's either a combined income from a couple, family support, or people who bought years ago... it's one of those three.

I've heard two things from my agent repeatedly.

First, definitely get pre-approval for a mortgage first.

If you make an offer without this, sellers won't even look at it. Especially in popular neighborhoods like Thousand Oaks, good listings receive multiple offers within days.

Second, choose your agent wisely. This is really important. I initially went with someone connected through Zillow, but they were too pushy, so I switched.

You need someone who has worked in the area for a long time and has handled many transactions in Thousand Oaks to negotiate well and get information quickly.

Honestly, I still haven't made a decision. The Thousand Oaks market is stable, the school districts are good, and it's definitely not a neighborhood that will lose value in the long run.

That's something everyone agrees on. But the high entry barrier is just a reality. We have to acknowledge that.

I think it's important to clarify whether it's for investment purposes or if you really plan to live there long-term.

Lately, I've been thinking, "If I plan to get married and have kids within five years, should I stretch my budget to get into a good school district? Or should I start with a condo to build equity and then move?"

I go back and forth between these two thoughts every day.

If anyone else is having similar concerns, feel free to share in the comments.

I can't be the only one feeling lost like this, right...?