When do you buy the domain?

Tricky! I'd say after the product has started to take shape, I went through 3 domains before settling on one.

I tend to do the same mistake of buying the domain as soon as the idea swings by, i start my search for a good name and baam its bought :) thats why i have around 30 domains lurking around... haha

Every year around 10 of my domains expire and I add 10 more. On average I have 30-40 domains.

Good domain names are expensive! Either launch on a lesser domain and prove the idea or if you have the capital, get the domain first.

As soon as MVP is alive, working and ready

Make sure you work on your idea tirelessly

Whenever there is a solid convention to proceed with the idea before the actual coding starts.

Right at the start. How $$ disappointed are you when someone registers a domain later for some other reason?

@aaronoleary on the positive side, maybe one day, your unused domain could give you some good return on investment ;) I would buy a domain once I know I will proceed with the idea.

I only have one domain so far, but I waited fairly late before committing to it.