<prompt> Human: Hey everyoneIm trying to decide between renting an apartment or buying a house. Im 24, and have no plans to move in the near future I will be here for at least 3 years, hopefully much longer. Salary wise I at 37k but will be bumped up to about 46k in 6 months. Im very new to this, and just wanted to get some advice as to what my goals should be. Personally, i would rather own a home, because i feel like i am just pissing money away on rent. However, i know nothing about home ownership and the stress that comes with it. Any and all advice is appreciated.  <response>: Consider that youll need to stay in this house for the next 5-7 years in order to not end up pissing money away on a mortgage. At 24, are you really ready to immobilize yourself for that long? Is there no job offer or relationship that could come along in a few years that might make you want to move to a different nearby town or further? 