re: First time homebuyer

didn't use a realtor. Nor does it really make any difference as those are sunk costs that have nothing to do with putting 20% down or not. Even if I did have to pay a realtor, buying less house than I needed and fixing it up still took a huge chunk out of what I owed them.

I'm just pointing out that people think you have to live in 200k homes right out of college. Which is just not true.

And the point of the other statement is that if a majority of people felt the need to save 20%, then housing prices would be lower. That is factual. There would not be enough money out there to support the higher prices without so much financing. Has nothing to do with whether PMI is still less than paying rent.