The fundamentals are the same in any market: budget, save, get clear on what matters to you, and get pre-approved so you know exactly where you stand. If you have stable job income and some savings, the best next step is a full pre-approval. That conversation either confirms you are ready or shows you precisely what still needs work. If steady income or savings are not there yet, it is simply too early, and that is fine at 24. Time is on your side. One specific caution on house hacking, meaning buying a place and renting out rooms to help cover the payment: whether that projected roommate rent can help you qualify depends on the loan program. - FHA requires a documented two-year history of receiving the boarder income, typically shown on tax returns, so it will not help on a first purchase. - Fannie Mae HomeReady and Freddie Mac Home Possible can count boarder income on the initial purchase of a one-unit primary residence, but only with 12 months of documented shared residency plus 12 months of the boarder's rent payments, and the income is capped at 30% of your qualifying income. For most first-time buyers with no rental paper trail, roommate income does not count yet. It becomes a genuinely useful tool once you own the home and can document the history. The idea works; it is just more involved than short videos make it look. A good starting move is the free Roadmap conversation, about 20 minutes, where we run your real numbers so you know your actual range before you shop.