We live in very different places. Multiply most of those numbers by about 6 and you have my area. I'm not exaggerating - 3 bedroom attached house of 1.5million, mortgage of 6.5k, PMI of $2500. Average rent is 2-3k for a 1 bedroom.

I've lived it. If your average home is $250k, your situation is nothing like mine or half the country that lives in cities. Your advice only applies to rural areas with extremely low cost of living.