[_ea1k]

"owning property is a hedge against variable property prices"

One of the best pieces of financial advice that I've ever heard centers on this. "The purpose of owning a house is to fix the cost of housing." Its brilliant in its simplicity and I had never thought about it until hearing it a few dozen times. :)

Unfortunately, it is also a vastly different mindset from many home buyers (and, for various reasons, sellers).