To Buy Or Not To Buy? That Is The Question.

I was just sitting here thinking about the question it seems is asked of me most often.  "So is it a good time to buy?"  My answer is ... Hell Yeah.  Not because I'm in the business.  If I had cash for a down payment I'd buy something for myself today.  I said buy, not to get stupid.  Make sure you cash flow, which means enough of a down payment to keep the payments in line with rent potential. 

Rates are down and prices are too, but this alignment of the planets won't last forever.  Sure prices may drop more (but not according to the latest blurbs I have been reading), but if you don't buy and then rates go up, your potential for good cash flow goes South.  One can talk about rates, appreciation etc, but you need to make your monthly nut and thats what cash flow is all about. 

My broker sent out a memo stating that escrow closures are up, which he said is inidicative of prices increasing in six months or so.  I'm the first to say no one has a crystal ball, but if there are signs of changes it doesn't make sense to ignore them.  It is an election year and I'm never sure how distorted the economic picture gets during the months leading up to the election.  More later....