No room for young Australians in the housing market?

Maybe we're just spoilt. Maybe we're unrealistic in our post-mooching-off-our-parents expectations of owning a modest home near the city. Maybe we should ease up on blaming the government and instead nag them to help those that are homeless or actually severely struggling to make ends meet. Maybe we should take a deep breath and consider purchasing a house – dare it be said - out there.

The only problem with living out there is that the further out there you go, the less jobs you will find due to less infrastructure and overall activity, and economic hot-spots out there face similar problems with housing affordability. Perhaps federal, state and local governments need to work together and focus on investing in economic growth in rural and semi-rural areas – areas that are often neglected in favour of the big cities to which we all flock to congegrate. If we can encourage more job growth out there, it will ease up the demand to live in the city, and allow us to finally make use of the expansive array of empty space that currently just serves to "look pretty" (or slightly depressing).

Maybe we need to accept that the bottom rung of the property ladder doesn't allow us the luxury of ocean-side views and a five-minute stroll to work. Sometimes, we might even need to – wait for it – get on a train. Start on the outside and work your way in – that's how many older people will describe the property heirarchy.

It's a dilemma for various conflicting demographics, and it looks like an issue that won't adequately be brought to the limelight until after election day. Until then, young people are going to have to deal with these intense life decisions on their own – renting versus commuting, house ownership versus starting a family, dead money versus dead travel time.

To think the oldies say we have it easier than they did.