<prompt> Human: I live in the U.S.  <response>: Theres no universal answer to your question. If youre asking about whether houses are a good deal right now, it really depends on the area. The housing market is not the same across the U.S.Do you have a 20 down payment saved, plus a larger emergency fund? Are you planning to live in the same area for at least the next five years? Will your mortgage paymenttaxesinsurance cost less than a third of your take home income?If the answer to all of those is yes, then maybe it is a good time for you to buy. 