How to make $150k in a year

[davewill]

I'm awaiting the day I break 6 figures so I can maybe one day actually be able to afford a house.

I'm confused. why do u need 6 figures to afford a house?

You don't, most places. A median house price in Phoenix seems to be around $400,000. Assuming that you can put down $40,000 (10%), then your monthly payment (at 5% interest) will be around $2000/month or $24k per year. Add property tax, insurance, HOA fees, etc... and you're paying maybe $28k per year for your housing expense. If we assume spending of, say, 50% of net income on your house, then you need to gross about $84k in my book to be able to afford it.

Do the same calculation using the $650k median price here in San Diego, and you get a gross salary of $136k.

Note: Part of the reason I think you can go as high as 50% of your net is that you've locked in your housing expense for a long while, and any raises will improve the situation.