Thank you all for the many responses. Yes, the pain threshold and in case of doubt somehow renting or staying where we are for now will be the best. We live moderately compared to our income (we have also saved quite well), but we travel and want to stay free. On the other hand, the idea is appealing that if things only go moderately well, you could live virtually cost-free and if the dream property ever comes along, you could strike. But it will be like always, opportunities are not without risk. If we had done it ten years ago, it would have been good. But we don’t want to take too much risk now (for that, the house does not have sufficient value emotionally).