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Although I may be aggressive with my asset allocation, I'm conservative when it comes to real estate. That means I urge you to stick by tried-and-true rules, like 25 percent down, a 5-year fixed-rate mortgage, and a total monthly payment that represents no more than 30 percent of your gross pay. If you can't do that, wait until you've saved more. It's okay to stretch a little, but don't stretch beyond what you can actually pay.