[madmaxx]

The problem where I live (Houston) is the housing market never took off. In fact it has been flat (3% annual growth) for 90% of the area for 15 years. The good news is you can get a 4000 ft^2 house with 3 car detached garage in gated community for 350K, if you would like a pool and private golf course and another 1000ft^2 make it 500K. If you need an all brick one story with 2400 ft^2 and two car garage in nice sub right around 180K.

I never had a house payment to begin with.