NYC sucks wrote:
Go remote.
NYC sucks. It's overrated, overpriced, and dirty. I lived there for many years.
There are plenty of other smaller cities and towns that offer a spectacular quality of life at much lower cost, and 250k will stretch much further than 400-700k in the nicer parts in and around NYC. You deserve a major life upgrade.
-Now in New Hampshire and loving life
Yeah NYC does kinda suck. I'm 29 and remote and seriously don't want to have to go back to the office. Like imagine commuting through that city every day, all the crazy idiots and vapid people to pass by etc. But I'm young and single.
I think people who have a family and even somewhat want to live there are absolutely crazy.
OP - your 250k won't be proper remote right? If you'll have to be by Seattle/SF/NYC it's not really that flexible. I'd probably slog it out in NYC area for another 3-5 years and stack cash + invest. Live in Greenpoint, it's super chill and clean. Close to LGA so you can take trips somewhere.
Then you'll be nearing 40 with over a mil liquid. Go proper remote then, live in the best place you can, buy the best house for your family, and your kids will just be hitting like 3/4th grade by then.
If the 250k can be truly remote, then I'd go for that (money isn't everything and you can buy a great house in some places for like 400k-600k)