Quote from noob_trad3r:
I dont understand the whole buy a home and 80% of your salary go to paying the home and fixing it up,insurance etc..
And live like a prisoner.
I would rather rent, travel the world and enjoy life.
Quote from S2007S:
Of course it will get worse, but not right away, talk is that they will be extending the housing credit again, this should keep the housing market propped up for another year. If they weren't propping it up housing would be off probably an additional 10-15% by now. All they are doing is delaying the bottoming process in housing by intervening.

Quote from hoodooman:
This advice will help,
1. Don't buy a bigger house than you absolutely need.
2. Live in it until its payed for.
3. Made the house your primary
investment.
4. Pay as many principal payments each month to shorten the length of the mortgage.
Worked for me. Took me 6 years to buy my first house.![]()
Quote from bwolinsky:
Noob, and I do mean that, uh, no one could even finance a purchase if 80% of their salary was going to pay for it. Nobody. The limit is something a little under 40% per the new FHA guidelines if I recall correctly.
Quote from dandxg:
You know I thought like you for a long time. I could pay off my mortgage tomorrow.
Here's the problem.
1. Paying off my mortgage would liquidate almost all my liquid net worth.
2. I put down a larger than normal deposit and the house have lost a small amount of money in 6 years. So I could have made more money in a CD. Yes I do know about all the money saved on interest. I have a 15 year note.
3. If I want to move I have to wait until someone wants to buy to get my money. Not liquid at all.
Its only fiction, maybe not?, but there was a recent CSI Vegas about a guy whom owned his house free and clear, put all his money in the house and the neighborhood tanked because of the downturn. He was now a prisoner in his home with bars on windows and no way to leave because no one would buy it.
So yeah, believe me, I am all about no debt and living frugal, but I just wanted to add some context to your point.
Quote from Tigerjaw:
"... There is a lot of inventory on their books that the banks don't want to recognize as losses. (To do so would reveal that theyre bankrupt.) When that inventory hits the market house prices will tank to where they belong. The govt will try to 'prop' up this price crash, but Mr Market always wins in the long run. Unfortunately a lot of resources can be appropriated and misdirected in the meantime. - -