options of buying a place or renting one. The bottom line is: Buy one if you have enough money to cover the down payment plus monthly mortgage payment as long as you plan to live in the area for more than three years. In my opinion only, to be a first-time home buyer is more important than any other kind of investment. This is the first step to seriously build your equity. Sometimes less thinking and guts feeling will make you better off than any intensive thinking/elaboration and extensive calculations.
By the way, the next 12 months or so could be a life-time opportunity to buy a residencial property in the States.
