Just find a good deal (they are still out there in TV but you could end up paying a bit too much if not careful as well) either way, if you can afford it, seems to me you will be a lot better off in the long run.
I think the plan you had before sounded like a good one,
Get something less and older (around 100K, there are a lot of these deals about TV) that can be rented out later, that way if it downturns again your covered, you just go out and buy your dream home for peanuts, on the other hand if it upturns and goes somewhat crazy again at least you have something.
