At least thats my strategy to save up big down payment and buy a nice 2-3 bedroom condo or townhome. I dont want the headache of a McMansion to deal with cleaning. I use the simple formula that when it is cheaper or same to buy and own as to rent then that is the right time in socal and sandy eggo.
For now I have zero debt and plenty of savings. Job stability is the magic quadrant for me right now.
At worst case, if I save half a million, I can always retire on the beaches of Ipanema with a mojito and pretty Brazilian babe.