You still need to look at the other risk factors, determine what level of risk is present, whether you will accept that risk, and how you will mitigate it.

And that doesn't include other expenses.So the traditional SFH route may work eventually including appreciation and other factors, but probably not in 10 years because you need to refi and purchase other houses to make this angle work.Buying a 2/1 somewhere and living on one side is another option, as is renting both sides, but you'd have to identify an area where you can afford a duplex.

I would think a more nuanced marketing approach where agents compensation is based on achievable results and other factors (e.g., hours committed to representation, achievement goals, discounts for properties based on price for square footage, negotiation of post escrow discounts, credit for seller/agent cooperation, transaction coordination commitment) might be more digestible for a buyer.Should be interesting to see going forward, but I do think in general, agent compensation will be less as things develop.

This is market dependent and it can be influenced by the comparables in the neighborhood. 

They are zoning and land use regulations, accessibility, environmental factors, market analysis, topography and terrain, utilities and services, neighbourhood characteristics, restrictions and opportunities, development feasibility, financial analysis etcetera.

There's many factors other than DTI on a conventional financing.

So while local wages are a factor in home prices, local buyers only account for ~14% of transaction volume.

This influences your next step … stay with current first loan, bring in partners and payoff, refinance, assume.

Just factor in for extra time and extra money 

When factoring in risk, I agree with @V.G Jason