<prompt> Human: Im 27 and make 36kyear about 2200ishmonth net. I have no savings and no debts. I live in an area around Baltimore where the median home price is around 236k Im currently renting a townhouse with two other roommates for 1500month. We all pay 500. I checked the tax records on the house were renting. It was purchased in 2012 for 168,000. We rent from a woman that used to live in the house before she moved out of state for a different job. That got me thinking... With 0 down, at 3.75, PMI, insurance, and taxes the most that payment would be is 1100. She had to have put money down, so shes probably paying around 900ish a month and making 600 from us less HOA fee. Im thinking it would make much more sense to buy a house, then have roommates basically pay my mortgage, rather than me and my roommates paying her mortgage. What are the chances that someone making 36kyear would qualify to buy a 150-175k house? I could get around 10 to 15k from my parents and grandparents not a loan, they just volunteered money for a down payment. I would have the same roommates, were pretty good friends. Or does it not make sense to own a home? The 1500month were paying is typical for a large 3BR townhouse in the area. Shitty apartments are around 800month. Nice 2BR apartments are around 1100.  <response>: Your strategy is a great way to live for free and a lot of people have done it. It is a lot more work and stress than you probably realize though. You have to make sure you have good roommates, who are reliable. Youre in charge of all repairs. etc. At 500month, youre probably in a pretty good spot where you are. 