My personnel recommendation is to temporarily drop the idea of buying a home. Based on your current income level, focusing on your education and career is your best option. As real estate does not seem to be rising anytime soon, your career is currently the best option for investing your hard earned income and time. Obtain a bachelors or masters in something marketable (for example an IT field or business) and come out ready to enter the job market making twice your current income. By then the housing market should be more stabalized and you ultimately will be much further ahead than you would have been purchasing today. - Sun Jun 22 2008, 04:49
MVPs or 'Most Valuable Players' are key Trulia Voices members who have been contributing high-quality content throughout 2008 and providing valuable advice to consumers and real estate professionals.