<prompt> Human: My question is what is the better long time investment in order to save money and build wealth long term - Is it wise to purchase a home now or leave money to grow in investment accounts?Here is my situation: 27 years old, good job, pulling in 100Kyr. Currently renting at 1400month all inclusive. Awesome spot. Homes in my desired area range from 300-500K. Market in my area seems to be extremely high with no signs of slowing down. Unsure if I will permanently live in my area but I do not foresee a move in the immediate future. Prefer not to do an FHA loan20 down payment to avoid mortgage insurance, meaning ill need to pull out 60-80K from my investment accounts for the down payment.Based on this situation, is it wiser to leave this money in my investments, hang tight as a renter, and wait for a market downturn or should i invest in a property that i can build equity in and potential rentsell for a profit down the road?Any guidance from would be appreciated!  <response>: Dont think of property as an investment. Think of it as a place you need to live - and you dont need to live in a house unless you have a family. However, you talk about pulling money from your investments to make a down-payment. Are those investments a major portion of your long-term savings? Do you have an emergency fund to cover living expenses for, say, 6 months? Are your retirement savings something separate that you dont need to worry about? Some people want a house even if they dont plan to have a family - they just want the space, privacy, etc. You know what your priorities are. You know how much time you have available to work on house-related projects. Some of those projects are fun, some are not. 