Pleasure is derive from the challenge of making money not spending it.

If you’re going to buy a house, Insure that you can pay that house off in 15 years or less preferably with income derived from your investment properties.

I derive a great deal of peace of mind from owning my own home.BTW, if you can househack, in my book that's invariably a far better financial decision than owning your own SFR.

I think that is just it, we need a sense of purpose and that is often derived from finding something that you're passionate about doing.

Im all in on real estate, all income is derived from some form of real estate rental.  

In all seriousness though, if you A) can easily afford the payments and B) will be able to derive a significant amount of happiness from it, then it is probably a good decision. 

In the 80's there was a reduction in the Rate of increase (derivative of increase if you're a calc guy) - but there still was an increase (all while rates were going up).    

Our economies, financial instruments, accounting, market manipulation, crony capitalism, derivates, currency printing and delinking from gold standard leave our economy extremely complicated and fragile compared to 1929 when things were not as complicated.

You guys are so doom and gloom, come on man, the fed (that caused all this btw) is going to save EVERYONE, Banks, credit unions, trust and mortgage companies, investment banks, underwriters, brokerage firms, hard money lenders, stock speculators, the airline, auto, restaurant,hotel, bar, retail, casino, and travel industries,money market funds, the repo market, the global fx market, the stock market (direct purchases soon), the bond market, the derivatives market (oop's sorry ronin capital), consumer spending (helicopter money only 3 weeks away), your local bowling league and oh yea, air bnb.Don't worry the largest financial event of our lifetimes, BY FAR, will be over in a jiff and you will be rested and ready to get back to work!

For prop tax I derive the tax rate from the most recent year's tax liability and total assessed value- then multiply that rate times the assumed purchase price.(4) 100% agree.