Something next to normal, that's the thing I'd like to try

I didn't think I could afford anything, either, and I spent a lot of time feeling really depressed while I was house-hunting. However, a little help with the down payment from my father and a 30-year mortgage at a reasonable rate made it possible. When I bought the house, the mortgage payment was only slightly higher than what I had been paying in rent. And it was a huge relief to get away from my jerk of a landlord!