Be very specific, and very picky about what house you would buy – then if you see the perfect match, at the right price, then you’d have some comfort in knowing you’re not moving for years.
If you want to examine the future market, look at detached houses in Oceanside today under $200,000. There is such a frenzy to buy them that buyers are compromising like crazy on what they get, just to end the frustration. I’ve talked to plenty of agents who have written dozens of offers for the same buyers, only to get beat out time and time again.
As prices go lower, the competition increases, which makes the obtaining of the perfect houses just as difficult. Everyone wants to think it’ll be easier if houses were cheaper, but I think it will be harder, because the frustration gnaws away at you – which tends to cause compromise.