Starting out as broke college adults

[Dominik Geib]

I hope everyone is doing well! I appreciate you all for taking the time to read this message—I know your time is valuable, and I’ll keep this short.

A bit of background: I’m getting married this December to my wonderful fiancée, we are 23 and 21. My fiancee is a college student and will be graduating in April of ‘26, she has had summer jobs and we both have been working towards this moment. I’ve started a couple side hustles as well. That said, we’re trying to make smart financial decisions as we prepare for life together—starting without a lot, but with a lot of drive and responsibility.

I had a few questions I was hoping to get your perspective on:

1. Buy vs. Rent – We've been looking at apartments and ADU properties, and surprisingly, some rents are higher than monthly mortgage costs. Do you think buying makes more sense than renting in today's market, especially for a young couple?

2. Requirements for Buying a Home – We don’t have a traditional two-year work history or a large down payment. What are the key requirements we’d need to meet to even be considered for a home purchase?

3. Is It Realistic for Us to Buy? – Are there viable opportunities or programs out there for couples like us? Or would it be more realistic to rent for now and revisit buying later?

4. Loan Options – Are there any specific loan programs (like FHA or first-time buyer loans) that might be better suited to our situation?

Again, thank you so much for your time and advice. I value your perspective and appreciate anything you’re willing to share.

Best regards,

Dominik

[Dominik Geib]

Thank you to all that responded thus far! I very much appreciate you all and for taking your time to respond. Very helpful advice and I’m looking forward to learning more about real estate and investing.