How much can I afford to pay in rent?

[dcasper70]

IMO, if you have the means to own, lean that way first. If you can get a halfway decent condo in your price range, it certainly beats renting. Get into the market and maybe build some equity. With the right place, you stand a decent chance of making money in the long term.

If you're worried about being tied down, don't.
Get an adjustable rate mortgage for a lower rate/payments and sell in 2 years if you want to move.

You're young, you can do this. Hell, even 5 years is nothing. When you're in your mid 30's you'll realize that the time really didn't matter...it just goes on by [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]