I'll offer some thoughts on the younger generations having a more difficult time buying stuff versus the previous generations-
1. Housing isn't free. There's a market value for it. In many areas, the market is determined by the number of jobs in that area that pay "good" wages. The more higher-paying jobs (or better-paying jobs), the more companies in the area, the probability of more employers moving to an area....all create a higher cost of housing. It's called supply and demand.
Another issue with the cost of housing is that most developers don't build 1700-1900 sf homes. They are building 2800-3500 sf homes. One reason is that is a very profitable size home. The cost to acquire land, run the development through zoning, permits, fight the "old" neighborhood (the "old" neighborhood doesn't want a new 340 home subdivision, local elected officials have to be paid off, many zoning meetings, etc.), you have the cost of bringing in utilities, retention ponds, etc. You have to pay real estate agents to advertise, sell, etc. There were no subdivisions of 340 homes 50 years ago. Homes were built along city streets in neighborhoods with character.
Another issue is that many areas have minimum home sizes. In our area, it is 1725 sf. Unless it's in an approved subdivision, the minimum lot size is 5 acres. You can get a variance to do 2.5 acres, but that will cost you. 5 acres around here is $50,000. No water meter, no sewage (septic). You might be lucky to have decent power. You're looking at another $10k for septic, water meter, power service, etc. Another $10k to clear, gravel drive, etc.
An 1800 sf house on that $70k+ improved lot will cost $200,000 to build. That's $280,000 to move in a minimum size home on a minimum sized lot.
Right now, any home priced under $225,000 is under contract in less than 48 hours. Even the rat hole $45,000 homes. You have families and slum lords scooping everything up.
Cars- Ask any young person who actually wants to drive what they want. They want a $30-50,000 vehicle. A cheap, used vehicle that is reliable is going to run you $10,000 and that's gonna be a Camry or such with 150k miles on it, minimum.
Another thing that makes everything more expensive now is there's fewer and fewer people in the trades, creating very high wages and very high costs to have service work performed. These same young people griping about the costs of everything don't own a screwdriver or hammer and the thought to assemble a simple tool kit and/or learn how to start taking care of stuff they own.
It's much easier to just work 8-5 M-F, live in the 900 sf apartment with a roommate and hang out at the brewery...
