EDIT: looks like copy/paste deleted some of the post, adding back:

$450k is likely $200k base, $40k bonus and $210k RSU (source levels.FYI). Most lenders won’t touch RSUs unless you had 2+ years at the same income level and even then they don’t like it. So taking 45% DTI (debt to income) ratio of base + bonus nets $9000 payment (principle + interest + taxes + insurance) and translates into $2mil purchase price assuming the hypothetical person also has $400k downpayment and reserves. That price point gets something like this:

https://www.redfin.com/CA/Mountain-View/2507-Alvin-St-94043/...? (3/1.5 1500 sqft 5800 sqft lot)

Let’s say RSUs take care of savings/extras.

Schools don’t look great for this house. This is where commute comes into play - you can trade long commute for more house and better schools.

Unfortunately, the geographical reality of Bay Area mean that there isn’t a lot of middle ground between short commute/lots of cost/other trade-offs or very long commute, but better everything else.