<prompt> Human: I live in Portland, OR, where home prices have gone through the roof recently. I pay 975 for a studio in town, but am thinking of taking my idle cash and using it to buy a first house. I make 55k. Im budgeting 300k as affordable. Id be looking at a 2 bedroom, renting out a room for 600. At the end of the month itll cost me more, but I would be throwing away less on interest than I am now on rent. I plan on staying for at least 3 years. YoY housing prices in town are up 7.2, 12 the year prior indicating that prices income may be reaching equilibrium, but Im looking at this as more of a long term move as more people leave CA for OR due to drought, etc. Current take-home: 2975. Current rent 975. Projected payment incl. Homeowners ins, property taxes, mortgage ins: 1532. Misc bills phone auto insurance 100. Groceries 250mo. Student loan payment: 468 income-based, never more than 15 of discretionary Edit: -I would keep the house as investment property in the event I were to leave the area. -Im at minimum rent for my area and its rising fast, 8.4 last year alone. Homes are extremely difficult to find for under 300k here, so affordable is a relative term, and youre lucky if that gets you a cardboard box. All Im looking for are 4 walls and a roof. Alternatively, I have 220k in student debt 6.8. I could just throw the money at that for a guaranteed 6.8 return...  <response>: 220k student debt godamn 