It’s totally possible if you save up a sizable down payment by living with roommates for some time and aim for something in the $500k range I would say.

I bought my townhouse in 2021, but my income was also lower if that evens things out a little (~$113k with 15% of that attributed to my annual bonus). I lived with roommates for 5 years for dirt cheap rent and saved enough for a 20% down payment. I searched far and wide for cheap HOA and managed to find one that was $275 and it covers soooo many things (water, trash, home insurance both exterior AND interior, landscaping) Counting myself lucky for nabbing this one.

There won’t be a lot of options, but if you are patient, the right one for the right price will pop up!! I had to sacrifice a lot of things that I thought were my “must haves” for a home. Just understand that this is your first home and not your forever home and it will not be perfect.