<prompt> Human: Im 26, and have been out of school for 4 years now working what I consider pretty high paying job 120k. Ive been living so far below my means for the entire time. I graduated with no debts because I was a charity casescholarship. Ive saved up almost 400k. Im planning to try to buy a house in the city, but it is so intimidating. Everything is either a total piece of shit even listed as requiring a gut rehab and still over 500k, or nice and 800k. On top of all that, still somehow a 300month HOA fee. This is all for sub 700sq foot places. I really want to buy because the prices keep rising, and in my field I dont think the salaries will get much higher for me. I want to live in the city, and have no desire to be far away for cheaper. Prices are predicted to be rising 5 a year so every year I wait, it will just go up more and interest rates are rising so fast.Mentally I just hate renting. I cant stand putting money into someone elses place, and paying their mortgage for them. But it seems like the commitment to even such a small place is enormous. How are people supposed to afford this. Ive been living in such shitty places and conditions just to save up, I cant imagine doing this much longer.  <response>: You make more than most, and have saved up way more than most. You get a mortgage and put down a down payment. Did you seriously think you need to pay cash for a house? 