@Joshua Schaffner Hey Joshua, along with the advice given above, another option would be to have a co-signer (someone with a stable job, good credit, etc) so that you’d qualify for a low down payment (3-5%) on a property you can househack.

@John MoorhouseHey, One option to qualify for a loan at a young age is to have a co-signer (who has a stable income, good credit on the loan, etc) so you can get a low down payment conventional loan (3-5%) that you can househack.

Mike, it sounds like you need a co-signer on the loan.

The only two options I'm aware of are getting a co-signor or using commercial debt where they don't care about your income, but rather the income from the property. 

I'm on LI as well and my wife and I are looking at buying a property as our primary residence, but also that currently has an illegally-rented unit on the property (doesn't have a CO).

I was a co-borrower on an FHA loan for my daughter’s first home a Duplex.

@Rick Martin I guess being a co-GP would mean better returns (portion of fees and promote on top of the regular returns), though I wonder if the tax treatment will be less attractive.

This is where it gets interesting:The boyfriends father also filled out an application to be a co-applicant.

Can they get a co-signer on the mortgage (and leave the lowest credit score off) till they can refinance and get the co-signer off the mortgage?

Check w/ the lender to see if they'll allow a co-signer for 12-24 months or whatever period they determine and will allow the co-signer to be released from the loan w/o refinancing.