Flu, squatting is out but a nice idea, I’m a running water kind of guy.

Snail, I kinda like the castle thingy, I plan on getting a paper crown from burger king and putting it on to answer the door.

Bear, I’m with you but affordability isn’t the issue, 400k isn’t a stretch, but 300k would allow me even more discretionary income to invest (or spend on drinking, gambling and women of ill repute, o.k maybe not ill repute but below standard repute for sure). I actually laugh at my own frugality because I already did what you suggested, lived like a pauper on a kings salary and eventually gave in and rented something reasonable, my pauper days are over but it is still good advice. Realistically I can afford suitable housing, I’m just a cheap bastard who’s little bubble theory is getting to the point of insanity. I’m well into the six figures, no debt, loads of cash in money market accounts and stocks and I’m hemming and hawing over another 50k drop in prices, I feel almost petty. I agree that the the uber bears hoping for $75 houses are dreaming but is 300k out of line for the properties I listed? It’s no longer about money, my strategy has paid off thus far and have saved 200k, now it’s about winning, no matter where I buy I wan’t to have paid the least, dammit. It’s all about respect at the block party. Respected by men, desired by women, you get the picture, it’s down to ego now.