2 to 4 years before you move again? OMG, DO NOT BUY ANY property in San Diego right now.
Given that we are at the beginning of a long, slow pullback on prices to god only knows exactly where, and given that those real estate cycles are 7 to 10 years on average, if you buy now and are forced to sell in 2 to 4 years, you could be in for a humongous shock come time to sell. You could easily find that your house is worth $100 to $200K less than you owe on it, or that your $100K down payment has vanished into the flower beds and new paint you needed to install.
If anyone was to buy now, it would be a good idea ONLY if you knew you were able to hold onto it for 7 to 10 years…. otherwise you risk losing a small fortune. Buying a property which is almost certain to drop in value, just so you can decorate it yourself, is a tremendously risky financial proposition.
How much is all that decorating really worth to you? $25K? $75K? $150K??? More?
