We had considered the roommate angle too, but as a newly(ish) married couple I think times would have to get pretty desperate before we were willing to go there. ;) It's great to be hearing feedback from others in the Sacramento/CA market.

If you don't own any property and can have roommates, I would look for a place you can afford. 

I have one roommate, who pays $400/mo for rent.

I would rather not have to pay the money to file the eviction which is this Thursday oe the electricity she and her now roommate are using.

This is very popular in CA because it allows the HO to accommodate elderly parents, grown children, even roommates.

FHA the nicest multi-unit house that you can afford, or buy the biggest and most Boss/Pimpin/Baller single-family home that you can afford, and charge your roommates (or AirBNB guests) enough so that you don't have to come out of pocket for your PITI payments.  

We've talked about investing in a small house or apartment and potentially renting it out to generate some cash flow (easy to find tenants as a university student, I'm very comfortable with roommates). 

I have done all this with No money down because I used some of my VA loan and I had 2 roommates the entire time I lived in this 1,900 square foot house and that covered the mortgage and the utilities.

I will move of course after some very necessary repairs are done but I will not be able to do any updates for now in it time I will slowly update it with the help of a roommate.

That will be my headquarters while I grind it out (including getting a roommate), saving most of my money and buying/holding single family homes .