In a down economy, it’s easy to start to question some basic fundamental ideas about how things are done. For example, is buying a house a good idea? The answer is an unqualified maybe. If you have a steady job and no intention of moving for 5-10 years, it might be a good idea. However, buying a house isn’t always all that people make it out to be. In fact, buying a house, especially a cheap house can have some real pitfalls. Forclosed houses, for example can become money pits in short order. If you are thinking of buying a house, espeically a forclosed house, you should do your homework first.