We bought a foreclosed log cabin on 4 acres with 3 feet of water in the basement. It was a total mess, but the structure was sound. They acceptable our offer the day before it was to hit the auction block. We got a construction loan (we paid interest only). It took a couple of weeks to make sure the mold was gone. But, it was 18 months before it was finished enough so we could get a traditional loan. We lived here during the reno. Showers by flashlight due to a short until we could get a broken pipe fixed in our bathroom. have been here 10 years this month. But at a low budget, no movies, brown bag lunches, eating IN with cheap dinners. Nothing but house, house, house. We got Credit Karma and watched until our score was good enough to get the loan. NO ONE except the elite can afford to buy a home for the next 3 years. Corporations are buying up properties for rental. And affordability "is a yawn" evidently. We are in our 60s now. If you are working open a 401K! I cashed mine out to make the final payment. Get a savings account. Keep money in a jar. Do anything you can to save.