Wait another year until next fall to really see if anything happens
At least thats my game plan. Besides, I really do not want to buy anything until the client decides whether or not to renew my contract for another year. I am saving right now for the downpayment and cannot risk losing work and being stuck in a 6,000 monthly payment with no cash in the bank. That would be suicide. For the next year to 18 months, wait and ride it out. I need another year to build up cash and credit anyways. Fortunately a cheap room does the trick and we can revisit the market a year or two from now. My co-worker who owns a home in Moorpark/San Fernando Valley pulled his home off the market and cannot sell it for the 1.1 million he wants. So it is starting to come back down but VERY SLOW process. Patience. Yeah and it sucks to pay massive tax but the year of per diem cuts down on taxes since I also use my room in San Diego as primary residence and pay little tax for the next year on the contract. Once it is decided to renew or not, I can cross the bridge of whether to buy a place in Ventura or Agoura Hills.
