"#6 get a rent control lease and hope for the long-term savings" This is what worked for us though it wasn't a specific plan other than we couldn't afford non-

"#6 get a rent control lease and hope for the long-term savings" This is what worked for us though it wasn't a specific plan other than we couldn't afford non-rent controlled housing at the time. We lived in a small but decent rent controlled 1br apartment for about the first 7 years here at which point the housing market dropped enough and we were able to buy. I wouldn't count on another housing crash of the same degree, but with two incomes and no kids, rent control definitely helps in building that cash reserve in case it does or in case you decide to move elsewhere or lose your job.