It needs to be “only” $500-700 negative cash flow that’s a range where when you factor in some limited principle paydown, mortgage interest deduction and some rent appreciation you can kind of talk yourself into buying. 2nd make sure it wasn’t “house poor” 3rd and this is most important make sure it’s a place you are willing to live in for 5+ years if need be, time heals everything in real estate but it might be longer than people think, I know a number of people who bought thinking they’d only be there for a year and now want out, but it’s hard to move after one or two years with closing costs and limited equity. 

I work with a few well healed investors and invest in real estate myself.  

It's anyone's guess but time heals a lot of wounds in buying RE...I bought my first 'flip' in March of 2008 and rode the value down over $150K, lost easily $10K on rent learning to be a LL and eventually sold that home around 10 years later for just about what I originally purchased it for.

I will be going back to the same position with the same employer once I’m healed and able to work again.

But if she wanted to dig in her heals and have a couple of investors help her out, at a profit I'm sure, she certainly has that option, IMO.

Sometimes these people are steal healing from their loss.

Originally posted by @Bruce Runn:I’m closing on my 3rd property of the year so there still is opportunity- 1 MLS- the other 2- hard work to find/buy themI am on your heals - closed 2 off market properties so far but I am looking at another off market this weekend! 

I’m a recent college grad and I’m looking at buying my first house, but in the economies current state I have concerns on whether it is a good idea to buy now or live cheap and rent until the economy heals.

Many pretty standard, some "Oh Nelly" they turned into scorched earth with everybody involved locking their heals in and people camping out in yards and sharing a bathroom. 

It heals all wounds and will (eventually) absorb any mistakes.