If your mortgage payment on a condo would be in the ball park to what you would pay in rent I would just buy a condo instead of renting. If ur "handy" buy one that needs some TLC and immediately add some equity with some renevations. As long as there is no housing crash in the immediate future I think you will be better of buying.
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“…If you don’t have a job and you’re not rich blame yo’ self…” - Herman Cain