I call Arizona's last 10 years the real estate ‘gold rush' ....

where for the first time home buyers thought of getting rich and making money on their own and a place to live was secondary.

yes, a lot of money was made; and lost. However, let's remember the

Top 5 reasons to buy a home. (the order is different for everyone)

1. a Home is place to live
2. enjoy tax benefits
3. a fixed mortgage payment in time (rents typically rise with inflation)
4. each month you save money by paying down your mortgage loan
5. build a nest egg over time

Today's home buyer is seeing opportunities that they may never have expected.

I encourage you to buy a home only if you can stay in your home for at least 5 years, put down at least 10% (20% is better) and get 30-year fixed mortgage.

If you can handle the payment comfortably then history has proven that you will build a nest egg while enjoying all the other benefits home ownership has to offer.