Comment by Capricorn2481

Homes became more affordable from 1989-1996. So I don't think they were retroactively saying "this isn't affordable anymore."

To be clear, I agree that houses are way less affordable now, which was the point of this thread. I just don't think fictional TV is a good reference point for that. They famously exaggerate the spaces people live in so they can film better angles or block different scenes. See "Friends"