If you have time to wait, watch the market. I dont know whether this scenario will ever come to pass but here is how the samrtest folks made a killing last time around. If prices come down diginificantly, wait until they are languishing at a low level for at least 6 to 12 months. Wait until everyone including the media is saying real estate is horrible investment and why would anyone buy anything….that’s when the biggest winners bought.
Of course you have to keep living so dont wait too long if you can afford it. My father spent his whole life preparing for a well funded retirement and died 3 months after retiring at age 68 after barely being sick a day in his life. He never got to enjoy it, though Mom is set for life.