If buying is expensive and rent is cheap, and you have no need for long-term settling down, you might as well keep renting. You're young and able to save, whic

If buying is expensive and rent is cheap, and you have no need for long-term settling down, you might as well keep renting. You're young and able to save, which means you can afford to take a little risk with your long-term investments (and don't take goldbug paranoia too seriously--or for that matter, any investment advice from anonymous strangers on the internet. That does not count as "due diligence"!). Diversification is usually called for--keep enough liquid cash to live on for a while if you lose your job, some "safe" investments, and some higher-risk investments.