Yes, you got it, in the US. I've actually tried to purchase a home multiple times the last few months. But the other offers that came in were so over the top I just couldn't compete with my offer. Anything that was considered reasonably priced a year ago and on the cheaper end for housing is also now a total rip off.

Because of how poorly that went with trying to purchase, I started looking at rentals over the last month but that has gone badly too (maybe ever worse).

I guess at the end of the day I'll probably have to take the hit and just end up having to spend a ridiculous amount on something I don't even like. But that's a hard hit to take financially, it undoes literally years of work and careful savings. Feels demoralizing.