Too much in retirement? Feel behind on cash + brokerage for home in VHCOL city

Hi all, I’m in my late 20s, based in a very high cost-of-living (vHCOL) city, and I’ve been saving aggressively for retirement. But now that I’m considering buying a home, I’m starting to feel like my cash and individual brokerage are way too low.

Here’s my current net worth breakdown (~$333K total):

Net Worth Breakdown:

• 401(k) (pre-tax + after-tax): $179K • Roth IRA: $36K • HSA: $20K • Individual Brokerage: $76K (of which $20K is in cash/FDLXX) • Vested RSUs: $22K • (Unvested RSUs ≈ $58K — not included above) 

I currently contribute enough to max pre-tax 401(k) and HSA and also put 10% into after-tax 401(k). I’ve been prioritizing tax-advantaged accounts because I value long-term compounding and future flexibility. But I’m wondering if it’s time to shift more toward liquidity.

My Questions:

1. Am I being too aggressive with retirement savings given my short-term goals? 2. How do you think about balancing long-term tax-advantaged savings vs. near-term liquidity? 3. Homes here go for ~$1.5M. If I co-buy with my sibling, we’re hoping to rent out a downstairs in-law unit for ~$3K/mo to help with the mortgage. I understand I’m far from being able to afford this. • How much did you have saved in brokerage + cash when you bought? • Did you pause retirement contributions to save for a down payment? 

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Would love to hear how others have navigated this. Thank you! 🙏

submitted by /u/whatsinanameidunno
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