If you were going to stay 20 years and could easily afford it, I’d say “what the hell, do what makes you happy.” But your reasoning reminds me of a particular poster, he went by the name of “23109.”

We all know how that turned out. Search older threads, he was the first person I told to not to buy a house, you are second. I’m not being egocentric, just trying to give you some perspective, I don’t usually tell people they are making a mistake, but I think you are and i think my opinion, nor anyone else’s really matters. Without prying too much, is it you, or is it the wife that wants to buy and you are rationalizing it. Sometimes telling them “no” causes a few nights on the couch but ends up with years in the bed, always succumbing to their wishes can cause the opposite.

If you want affirmation, you aren’t likely to get it, not because of the purchase but because of your length of stay. The posters here couldn’t agree on how to pick up hundred dollar bills off the ground, what does it tell you that all of them think you shouldn’t implement your plan?

We tried, do us a favor, in two years, when you come back asking about how long you should be able to stay before they forclose, or why you shouldn’t still keep paying because the bank fooled you into an interest only loan that has reset to a higher rate, make up a new screen name. It’s better for everyone.