We bought in 2008. We had two incomes but not great ones, and were also paying to keep an apartment in upstate NY for husbands job. We got a fixer upper. Both of us had plenty of student loans. I was 26, he was 31, so not nearly decades. No financial aid from family, but they did contribute skills towards fixing it up.

We did the small old house that needed work in a good neighborhood. Been here 15 years and plan on staying.