You could buy a condo with $450k, but its going to be 400-500 sq ft. and the view's probably not gonna be too great.
Like you said the entire point is for the short commute. Some people just look to own something so bad they forget it. A friend who lived in a condo a city over. At that point just get a house, put 1/4 more in and you get much more space, backyard, basement, etc.
That was at least five years ago. Those girls are married now. Hilarious how its a free for all for when girls are young and then, its build a nest time, and play house as they get past the ripe age of 23. She had a great view from her studio condo. The thing is that, if you are constantly chasing, bigger, and better, there is no winning that game. Ideally, I would rather 400-500 sq ft over a million dollar debt even if I had that sort of liquid cash which I do not.
I want to take a more minimalist approach the next couple of years. I would not recommend anybody treading the path I took in life. You could say I took on that dragon of chaos full force. Interestingly enough, when I get involved with women, they are usually sheltered, come from a good family, have money etc. They say opposites of attract. There is something to be said of those first generation Europeans. They have necessity driving them and over a couple generations, they claw their way up, and succeed.
With business, I have seen the same old story told again and again. It takes a generation to acquire the wealth and or riches. It takes the next generation, usually, the children to squander it. They never went through the ringer and the fire to have earned it. They walked into it. I notice the same with the corporate and business world. You get a your cookie, your little bonus which in the grand scheme of things is next to nothing. There is hollow promise of progression of promotion but, unless of course, you are related to the powers to be, good luck.
Its chasing a carrot on a string. Most people are chasing phantoms. Its not there and even if they acquired what they thought would give them happiness, it is short lived or not really what they want. I want that venture. My own venture. Its what I am about at the current moment. I wish you luck on your endeavors. If you have no kids or children, nothing to hold you back you have no excuses to take risks. Obviously, be smart about it.