Save for the down payment, buy a house, get room mates.

Couple of reasons1) I'm currently renting an apartment with 2 roommates.

We pay $1,300 per month for a 2br 2ba, have a roommate paying $800 and save save save. 

A little background, I did the same thing as you on June 29th 2017, closed on my first property in SW Atlanta and got 2 random roommates off Facebook. 

I will live in the house, plan on bringing a roommate.  

A condo with 2 or 3 brs can be a nice first time purchase in the area so you can get a roommate or two to help alleviate the cost of the mortgage.

It would be nice if someone wrote nice articles about landlords...but instead we are all a@@holes.Like the Lawyer in article who made himself a lawyer, I "Made myself a landlord"...by saving all my money, driving a junky car, having a room mates, not buying a big expensive truck, not going on nice vacations, and eventually having enough to buy a place of my own in expensive So.

For instance, some gentrifying areas actually see population loss as multifamily buildings are converted into SFHs and apartments that used to house entire families are rehabbed and rented to a couple roommates. 

That's a bit more that $2900 per month.Expenses:-$1400 -- rent (with roommate, admittedly this situation will change)-$350 -- electric, gas, phones, internet, car insurance-$500 -- health insurance-$200 -- groceriesTotal: $2450That leaves a net of $450 for luxurious expenses and a safety net for "**** happens" - car repairs, vet bills, medical bills, etc.Clearly doable, while living in the most expensive place in the world and living like a king compared to 99% of people on Earth and 99% of people who have ever lived.

Also, I'd find a lawyer that is well versed in the REI world, like I mentioned I don't have any experience with room rentals but since you will be getting a roommate in your own home I'd make sure you have a clear lease with even clearer boundaries while still adhering to the MA tenant laws that apply.