On a recent visit to Portland, Ore. – the hometown I moved away from 10 years ago – I stood in awe when I visited the spacious, newly-purchased homes belonging to several friends from high school and college. How can they afford this? We're around the same age and at similar points in our careers. My version of adulting was when I bought a new couch and signed up for a new credit card last month. I feel so behind!

I quieted my jealous thoughts by reminding myself that adulting means different things in different parts of the country. You can get a gorgeous, six-bedroom home for half a million dollars in a suburb of Portland, but in many 'hoods of Los Angeles, the city I've called home for five years, that might get you a two-bedroom condo. Comparing my life milestones to theirs is like picking the advanced ski trail while they cruise down the beginners' lane and expecting to reach the finish line at the same time.

It's a little unfair that for those who choose to live in a big city like Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York, achieving the dream of homeownership comes at a much higher price. But sacrifice is an evitable part of choosing where to live, right?