[spiffytech]

While I think you're right in ordinary times, this doesn't work during a bubble. You could be totally blocked from moving if your home is worth a fraction what you owe on it, no matter how necessary the move is (job, school district, family).

[c7b]

Even then there are some mitigants: you could try to rent out your first home and rent or even buy a new one. Tax-wise that would work against you (usually, in most places), but it probably wouldn't bankrupt you.

I agree, of course you don't want to have bought right before a dip. But if you sketch out a few scenarios and look at the overall and your individual situation (eg, Would rental income cover credit payments, even in an adverse scenario? Do you have expenses you could claim in years when you're renting out? Do you have other uses for the property, eg within a family?), you might find that you can manage the risk (or not). It's definitely not risk-free, but there's also significant upside potential if you can make a long-term commitment.

[andsoitis]

> this doesn't work during a bubble. You could be totally blocked from moving if your home is worth a fraction what you owe on it

Do you actually mean after the bubble has burst? Because during the bubble, why would your house price be a fraction of what you owe on it?