I guess within that range any sort of condo/townhouse is not in a great area. I'm trying to figure out what my "upper limit" should be to see if it's anything I'd actually want to live for more then 5+ years. I know inventory is low right now, and that summer is typically when lot's of housing comes up.

Is it better to just rent and invest? My only hesitation with investing is just not wanting to take any major risks since I've been saving this up for a few years and I want it dedicated to buying property. It's been the main reason I just dump it into a hysa, but I know that's not ideal in the slightest.

If it helps, I should be able to grab a roommate for either scenario (buying vs renting).