re: Moving to new City - To buy or to rent?

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A house isn’t an investment imv, it’s a place to live

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^this is the truth.

If you make some money moving, it may be luck instead of skill. Years ago I was assigned to San Diego, I was only going to be there 3 years so I rented. It was a high market in 2003. When I left, it was not a hot market. Paying 850K for a decent house would have set me up to lose big money when we left.

IF you buy near bottom and sell near top, you’ll do great. This is what you hear about at cocktail parties, but I’ve never had that kind of timing. One time I lived in a house 5 years. I made 5K after they sell. I do not talk about that one.

There is nothing wrong with buying a house. Sometimes it can appreciate quickly, but sometimes not. I know there are many on here who have done very well with rentals and buying/selling houses, but has anyone on here ever not made baller money on housing as you’ve relocated around the country?

BTW, I’ve never had a relocation package. People with a company relocation program have more protection.