scaredycat, I am very cautious like you. I’ve concluded that I will only buy if it’s a relatively small % of my wealth (and cash only). If I choose to live somewhere cheap, then I can do that right away. If I want to live near the coast on So Cal, then I will be renting. Right now, I live in very expensive places, near my work. That may change when I retire.
There’s no point in agonizing endlessly, trying to convince yourself to buy beyond your price comfort level. First decide how much risk you’re comfortable with = the maximum price you’d pay. Then decide where you want to live, and how you want to live, including the owner vs renter choice.
