[quote=CONCHO]Rent and keep your 20% down is still the best case scenario. Nothing like keeping your money liquid and your credit pristine, getting ready for a great opportunity.

If we have no or low inflation, that’s correct. However if we have high inflation your savings will erode and home prices will rise.

Government intervention in the housing market will only grow from here. Can you think of anything that the government gets out of once they get into it? Their interventions (both current and future) are going to cost money which will be paid for with Uncle Ben’s helicopter dollars.

What happened when government got involved in health care? Huge inflation in health care costs. Now that the government is increasingly getting involved in the housing market, what will you expect?[/quote]
How is holding your cash and great credit bad in that scenario. Inflation doesn’t spike over night. When you see inflation going up at full tilt, you can put that 20% and great credit to good use and buy a house at that time. It’s still much safer than buying w/ FHA now w/ an intention of walking away if the 3.5% down get wiped out. Which, IMHO, is very likely.