I bought my first house in 2006 just before the peak. I sold 3 years ago for less than I bought. But if I consider what I would have paid in rent for equivalent standard of living, then I broke even or maybe even a little ahead in total cost. However a BIG difference was that a significant portion of that expenditure became equity. So I was able to grow wealth rather than grow someone else’s wealth.

If I were to do it again (for the first time) I would:

- go out to dinner less and save more of that money (nothing to do with home ownership, but I could have hosted more at my HOUSE)

- perhaps bought a little less of a house or bought a 2 family and rented the other unit.