We have to work 4X harder than past generations

I'm with my coworker who is close to retiring in his 50s. We are the same rank and similar pay level. He bought a house in his 20s with a job where he was making less. He keeps asking why I wanted to get promotions so fast and I told him I want to be able to afford a house by 35. It seems the only way to realistically do so in a timely manner is to aggressively promote whereas in the past it was something anyone could do if they could save a bit over a few years.

I worry for future generations, if they will lose out on goals that are reaches for us.