Not to minimize how fucked the US is, but this is true to some degree. There’s a lot of ways to get a mortgage with lower credit, with or without federal and state grants. Most people could probably get approved for a mortgage. Now, getting approved for a mortgage that’s large enough to afford anything near your work is a bigger question. But if you can afford to live in a cheaper area and have consistent income, it’s worth checking to see if escaping the rent trap is a possibility.