<prompt> Human: Wife and I have no debt, looking to possibly buy first home... Have around 300k in cash. Should we buy a home in the bay area or invest? Im a believer in real estate but want to hear of any other lucrative possibilities. Thanks!  <response>: A home is a long term lifestyle choice. I dont think having money sitting around is a good reason to buy one, if you wouldnt otherwise. Beyond that, to tell you how to best invest the money, wed need more details: Ages, incomes, other investments, 401k options, etc. 