Now supreme irony would be if they worked for a Mortgage Lender and Ted's employer was also his lender!! Here, take this pay cut and, oh..., we'll take your house! Knock on wood... I could be in that situation =8^0
OK, so its more of an inside comedy thing. Like Gilbert Godfrey telling the plane crash joke at the Friar's Club roast shortly after 9/11 was "too soon" (go see "The Aristocrats").
I don't think the housing side of the punchline works as well with Wally -- he's too old. Asok's young enough to not yet own a house.