I understand CS / Bryan TX are low income areas, but A&M is growing every year and more and more kids/concerned parents are looking for a safe college living arrangement off campus with a bunch of amenities at their disposal. 

Enter the current financing landscape...I believe it's safe to say low down payments and low interest rates are driving home prices sky high.

They can safely leave a window open a couple inches with the security lock inplace so they don't have to worry about a break in.

I lived in Miami for a few years and had a good friend that grew up there give me some good insight in terms of where it is safe, generally speaking.

It's my home and I need to feel safe in it.

Owning your home free & clear sounds like a good safe plan, until you realize that in order to be free & clear, you have to put that much money to it, so you'll have a lower payment but will have less cash on your hands.

Beautiful Lindal Cedar Home tucked back in the woods on a headland with a distant ocean view, safely out of the Tsunami zone.

When they hit 15 digits, they tend to be more playing their money safe than anything else.

It seems like a safe play for now since everyone thinks a downturn is going to happen soon.

To play it on the safe side, find another one and get it under contract and then sell the one you live in now.