Same position as I was in 2006. My decision was either waste money renting a one bedroom, or just buy a house for a mortgage of about the same. Twenty houses, and two week later, I moved into a house, with zero money down. Granted 20% was in a HELOC, and the other was a 30 year. Five year later, refinanced to 15 year loan, and now I'm racking up $1000 equity every two months. 20% down is great if you can, but early on, I don't see how that's possible unless you're SERIOUSLY making bank.

Also side note, just got done watching The Big Short, as well as reading the book. So depressing what happened to all these people.