Depending how much you earn you can step up those savings by getting a side-hustle in any part of real estate....working for a top Real Estate office on weeknights and weekends, working for an RE Investor, working for a General Contractor and learning a few skills, etc.

Whether to jump in now depends not only on interest rates but several factors including where you are financially, do you think values will increase or decrease over the next 2-5 years and will the investment provide you with a better return than investing the $ somewhere else.?

Depending how much you earn you and how much extra time you have available you can step up those savings by getting a side-hustle in any part of real estate....working for a top Real Estate office on weeknights and weekends, working for an RE Investor, working for a General Contractor and learning a few skills, etc.

This really depends on your market, personal finances, and risk tolerance.

Maybe a condo, depending on your reserves, or small single-family (love 2-bed SF).

Whether or not there is title insurance coverage will likely depend on whether or not there is coverage for the gap.

Depends on your market, that should be the driver for everything.  

Depending how much you earn you can step up those savings by getting a side-hustle in any part of real estate....working for a top Real Estate office on weeknights and weekends, working for an RE Investor, working for a General Contractor and learning a few skills, etc.

@Terri B.As always, "it depends" truly case by case I'm assuming the speaker was harping on equity stripping for asset protection 

I ask because general principles of contract law generally do NOT prevail over regulatory constructs arising out of specific enabling legislation.I think it depends on the type of case.