I know it was a huge stretch when my parents and my grandparents bought their first homes.  I've heard the anxiety ridden stories, but owning your own home was a huge landmark in their respective lives.  It was more than just being tired of wasting money on rent.  It had more to do with pride.  Despite their worries, they survived.  Both my parents and grandparents have told me more than a couple times that buying real estate was the best thing they ever did.  Soon after college I was pressured to do the same thing.  It's funny that I don't remember there ever being any talk about waiting for the bottom of the market, interest rate trends or any of the latest headlines.  Rubish!  Buy a home you will be happy in and make it work.  My family is not rich, but they have done quite well with their investments.  Even after the infamous bubble popped in Northern Virginia, that first condo I purchased is still worth over twice what I paid for it.  I'm even cash positive on the rent I collect every month.  Not bad if I do say so myself.  You wouldn't want me to get started on how many times over my grandfather's home in McLean has multiplied in value.  What I am getting at is a question of whether today's home buyers are being programmed by the media to take such a granular/confusing approach to the decision of home buying that they are getting lost in the details?