Just chiming in to say that I bought my first house in my 20s and it was a great decision- I bought in South Baltimore, which was cheaper than it is now but I don't think it would necessarily be a mistake to buy instead of rent. I would wait and see where you will teaching though if you can- it's so, so nice to live relatively close to work- so if you get a job in Northeast Baltimore it would stink to have bought something in Hollins Market for example. Once you know where your job will be it will be easier to find a good neighborhood fit.